Andaman starts mangrove canopy walk to tourists

Port Blair, Apr 14: A unique facility for tourists has come up in remote Andaman islands with the inauguration of a 240 meters long Mangrove canopy walk at Baratang Island of Middle Andamans.

The forest department of these islands has also renovated the Mangrove Forest Rest House with five new rooms and a multifunctional hall for tourists, S R Mehta, Secretary of Andaman's Department of Environment and Forest, said here yesterday.

The canopy walk is a long wooden structure raised to the height of one to two metres and passes through thick mangrove forests on each side, he added.

''We have also placed display boards along the walkway which serves as an open mangrove interpretation centre. These boards provide detail information about mangrove forests and its importance in the protection and conservation of the coastal areas,'' Mr Mehta said.

The Association of Tour Operators in Andaman and Nicobar islands has welcomed the move.

''We expect more such initiatives from every department and a combined effort by all will definitely boost tourism in these remote islands,'' said M Vinod, President of the Association of Tour Operators in Andaman.

Baratang Island is famous for Mud Volcano and Lime Caves, which attract thousands of tourists every day.

Andaman and Nicobar is a group of 572 small and big islands and tourism is one of the major industries of these islands.

UNI