Centre releases Rs 10 crore for wildlife tourism

Bangalore, Apr 17 (UNI) The Centre has released Rs 10 crore to promote wildlife tourism in Karnataka, Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture, Tourism and Information, Vittal Murthy said here today.

Speaking after launching the official Web-based Central Reservation System for the state-owned Jungle Lodges and Resorts Limited here, Mr Murthy said both the state and the union government were giving thrust to promoting eco-tourism, which has become an 'emerging trend at both the national and global level'.

Mr Murthy said the amount released to the state forest department, would be utilised to create infrastructure like accommodation, vehicles and trekking facilities both inside and in the peripheral areas in the forests for the benefit of adventure seekers and wildlife lovers.

He said the state tourism department has located three places to build infrastructures at Dandeli in Uttara Kannada and Kodagu in Western Ghats. The funds will also be utilised to beef up existing facilities and add new properties.

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