Forest Deptt’s Eco-Tourism Complex near Mogarkasa lake

By Vijay Pande

FOREST Department has taken an initiative to promote tourism in Mogarkasa, a protected forest in Ramtek taluka. It has set up an Eco-Tourism Complex on the banks of Mogarkasa lake and has constructed elevated tourist accommodation huts. The safari also is slated to start at the beginning of the New Year. Dr Prabhu Nath Shukla, the then Deputy Conservator of Forests, Nagpur, had introduced the concept of an EcoTourism Complex at Mogarkasa. The Mogarkasa reserve forest comes under Paoni forest range. Spread over an area of 16 sq kms, it is a mixed forest and there are plenty of teak, tendu, bamboo, salai, and other trees.

Wild animals like tiger, leopard, bear, deer, sambar, wild dog etc also live in this forest. A safari route has been planned from Salai to Bawanthadi. Although Mogarkasa area has been attracting tourists, creation of facilities for tourists there was neglected for many years. According to Forest Department, the project is being developed to promote tourism in the area and generate income for the local people. The total cost of this projectis Rs 1.80 crore of which ForestDepartment has received Rs1.20 crore from DistrictPlanning Committee. In all, sixelevated non-air-conditionedtourist huts have been erectedon the banks of the lake. Theproject is being implementedthrough Joint Forest Management CommitteeJFMC). There are plans to builddecks, parking areas, landscaping, canteens, watch-towers, nature trails, solar fences.

The project is expected toreduce pressure on tourism inPench Tiger Reserve. With theconstruction of Eco-TourismComplex near Mogarkasa lake, a new option will be availableto the tourists. Forest Department’s revenuealso will increase. The safari will be launched at the beginning of the New Year, said Dr Bharat Singh Hada, Deputy Conservator of Forest. The preparations for jungle safari are in final stages. Efforts are on to resolve the power supply issue at Mogarkasa before the start of the safari. The department is tapping the option of solar power.