Bhubaneswar: The state government Thursday launched safari services in the Bharatpur forest here.
Bharatpur forest lies in the south eastern part of Chandaka-Damapara Wildlife Sanctuary and is spread over an area of 20 sq km in the heart of the capital city.
Bijayashree Routray, Minister Forest and Environment, inaugurated the jungle safari vehicles for the public Thursday. Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, additional chief secretary, Forest and Environment department and, Sandeep Tripathi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF, and several other officials were present at the inaugural event.
On the occasion, students of SAI International School participated in a nature camping programme.
It may be mentioned here that five eight-seater open jungle safari vehicles have been procured and customised out of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding of MCL and NALCO. Two sorties— one from 6 am to 10 am and another from 4 pm to 6 pm— will be made available for the public. The tariff for each vehicle per sortie is fixed at Rs 2,000. Online booking facility through www.ecotourodisha.com will be opened for the tourists within a week, officials said.
(BOX) The Bharatpur forest abodes Asiatic elephants, spotted deer, wild pigs, honey badgers, porcupines, wild cats, mongooses, civets, hares, pythons, cobras and a variety of avifauna and flora. The patch of forest acts as carbon sink and green lungs for the capital city. It also caters to the need of drinking water of the city by recharging the hydrological cycle. The Bharatpur nature tourism destination near Utkal Multicare Hospital at Lumbini Vihar in Bhubaneswar is developed to create mass public awareness among public through nature education and jungle safari for conservation of this unique ecosystem of the state. The destination boasts off being one of the rarest eco-tourist spots near any state capital in the country.
