Uttarakhand

• 30 Dec 2021

Kakra Crocodile Trail

Why in News

• On December 29, 2021, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the Kakra Crocodile Trail in Terai Eastern Forest Division at Khatima. This is the first Crocodile Trail in the state.

Key Points

• The Chief Minister said that with the creation of the Crocodile Trail, where there would be conservation and enhancement of the natural habitat of the crocodiles, tourism activities would be encouraged in the area. Its establishment will increase employment and economic activities.
• He said that its construction will help both ecology and economy. With the formation of these, local people will get employment, efforts will also be made to increase tourism activities in the area through homestays.
• Kakra Crocodile Trail Kakra Nala is located on the western border of Surai Ecotourism Zone. This Nala is the natural habitat of Crocodile (Marsh Crocodile). This species of crocodile found in freshwater sources has become extinct in many countries like Bhutan and Myanmar.
• For tourists to see crocodiles easily, 4 km. The long drain has been developed as Kakra Crocodile Trail by channeling fencing. Three viewpoints and several watch towers have been built in this first Crocodile Trail in the state so that crocodiles can be seen up close in a safe manner.

Jungle Safari Launched in Surai Ecotourism Zone

Why in News

• On December 29, 2021, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched Jungle Safari at Surai Ecotourism Zone in Khatima. During this he also did jungle safari. Surai Ecotourism Zone is the first such ecotourism zone in the state, where tourists can enjoy jungle safari.

Key Points

• Terai Eastern Forest Division, which is full of biodiversity and wildlife, will be developed in a planned manner and converted into an eco-tourism zone so that its natural beauty can be used to provide direct and indirect employment to the local people.
• The Chief Minister said that CM Young Ecopreneur Yojna was launched in Dehradun on October 1, 2021 with the objective of providing self-employment opportunities to the local people by linking forest and wildlife with the economy.
• The implementation of this scheme has been started. As a beginning, jungle safari is being started in Khatima by developing the Surai Ecotourism Zone. The scheme will be operated through village committees.
• The influx of tourists in the Surai Ecotourism Zone will provide direct and indirect employment to the local people. This scheme will be extended to the entire state.
• He said that nature guide, drone pilot, wildlife photographer, ecotourism, wildlife tourism based skills would be converted into enterprise under CM Young EcoPreneur Scheme.
• The forest routes of Surai forest area have been developed as Biodiversity Trail. This area is spread over an area of 180 square kilometers, bordered by Sharda Sagar Dam in the east, Khatima Nagar in the west, Melghat Road in the north and Pilibhit Tiger Reserve area in the south.
• Naturally beautiful, this forest area is rich in sal trees, pastures and water. Due to all these reasons, the movement of tigers continues here. Apart from this, about 125 species of mammals, more than 150 species of birds and about 20 species of reptiles are also found in this forest area.