Kinnersani reservoir in Palvancha mandal is poised to emerge as a major hub of eco-tourism with the Central Government sanctioning Rs 3.70 crore for renovation of the defunct cottages including the dilapidated glass house (Addala Meda) and introduction of boating and other tourist facilities at the scenic site.
The reservoir at Yanambailu village is part of the vast Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary spread in an area of 635 sq km in Palvancha and Kothagudem divisions.
The Centre has sanctioned Rs 6.93 crore to implement an eco-tourism development project encompassing two major components including upgradation of tourist facilities at Kinnerasani reservoir at a cost of Rs 3.23 crore and construction of a tourism hotel in Kothagudem at an expenditure of Rs 3.70 crore.
Funds for the project had already been released under National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, official sources said.
Proposals to introduce vehicle safari in five-km circular track around Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary and creation of a trekking path and facilities for bird watching among other activities of tourists interest are also under active consideration of the government departments and agencies concerned, sources added.
The project will be implemented with inter-departmental approach in adherence to eco-friendly tourism practices. Meanwhile, a high level team consisting of the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) General Manager B Manohar, Conservator of Forests, Khammam district, B Anand Mohan, architects and technical consultants led by Parliamentary Secretary and Kothagudem MLA Jalagam Venkat Rao visited Kinnerasani dam site on Wednesday.
The officials concerned conducted a trial run of a boat in the reservoir to study the feasibility of introducing boating facility in the water body. The District Tourism Officer Suman Chakravarthi and others were present.
Earlier, the team headed by Mr Venkat Rao visited the 17 acres site identified for construction of tourism hotel at Yellendu tri-junction on the outskirt of the coal town of Kothagudem.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rao said a tourism budget hotel will be constructed on a sprawling area with all modern amenities at an estimated cost of Rs 3.70 crore.
The hotel will help serve the accommodation needs of the tourists and boost tourism in the area, which is endowed with tremendous tourism potential, he remarked. The tourism promotion activities will also create employment opportunities for the local unemployed youth, he noted.
