Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 22: Minister for Housing, Horticulture, Culture, Youth Services and Sports Raman Bhalla on Sunday laid foundation stone of 'Nature Interpretation Centre (NIC) at Doongian in Bathindi.
The NIC would be developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 lakh by Forest Department on 12 hectare available land at Doongian in Bathindi area within two years.
Interacting with the locals of Doongian village, Bhalla said that the NIC is being developed by the Forest Department to serve as an awareness generation centre. He said that the centre will have provision for various environmental-cum-forest related awareness generation programme, movies on the themes of wildlife conservation and climate change screened for visiting students, tourists, scholars and also for locals. He called upon the people to extend their full cooperation to the Forest Department in completing the project within stipulated time frame.
The Minister said that Government has taken several measures to promote eco-tourism in Bathindi area, adding that at the NIC spot, the ornamental plants, fruit plants, toilet block, guest room, pre-fab huts also provided to the visitors and tourists. He said that NIC will become hub of the information source required for research projects and the scholars, teachers, forest officials and students will be the most beneficiaries of this center. Bhalla said that with the completion of NIC on one hand improve the economic status of the locals of Doongian and on other hand will help Government in promoting eco-tourism, preserving of forest wealth and wildlife in the area. |
