Yavatmal gets lion’s share of state ecotourism funds

Nagpur: Maharashtra government on Thursday released Rs 30.60 crore for the development of ecotourism in the state. Of that, Rs 18.35 crore has been allocated to Yavatmal district alone. “The money will be spent to develop spots like Pohradevi, Tipeshwar, Mahalaxmi and Dhamangaon temples in the district,” said former forest minister Sanjay Rathod.
Rathod said as forest minister he had appealed to the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to develop ecotourism spots in the state to boost local employment.
The government has released Rs 9.43 crore for boosting tourism in and around Tipeshwar wildlife sanctuary. The famous Mahalaxmi temple at Deulgaon Walsa in Darwha tehsil will also be developed as a tourism spot by spending Rs 32 lakh.
Rathod said Rs 24 lakh will be spent to develop Sant Mugsachi Maharaj memorial at Dhamangaon (Dev). Among other places to be developed include biodiversity park at Jamb, biological park at Pohradevi, and Aroma park at Ner.
To boost ecotourism in other parts of the state, the state released Rs 2.76 crore for the conservation of chinkara and biodiversity park at Indapur in Pune. It also released Rs 4.18 crore for Taljai forest park at Pachgaon and Rs 3.49 crore for wildlife tourism at Kanheri.