Forest officials of Amrabad Tiger Reserve and Telangana Tourism officials are considering operating their own boats from Srisailam left bank canal to Akka Mahadevi caves in Mahabubnagar district if AP Tourism fails to come forward to resolve issues pertaining to revenue-sharing from operation of the river cruise.
Speaking to The Hindu , a source in the Telangana Forest Department said they were planning to form Eco Developmental Committees (EDC) with local tribes to operate boats to the historical caves to help the tribes earn a livelihood.
This would also help in conservation of forests and development of the tourist spot with the involvement of locals.
“We have also had to maintain the caves and other tourist places located around Akka Mahadevi since tourists throw plastic and other waste during their visit,” forest officials said to explain why they were seeking a share in the AP Tourism’s river cruise revenue.
As part of Community Based Ecotourism (CBET), the source said that locals had been successfully maintaining Mallela Teertham waterfall, Rasumallabavi and Farahabad Tiger Safari tourist places in Amrabad Tiger reserve where about 12 tribes have been benefiting from each tourist spot.
Similarly, forest officials said that they would also involve locals in operating boats from Srisailam to Akka Mahadevi caves from the Left Bank canal, which is located in Mahabubnagar district.
Conservation of forests
“The presence of Telangana people at the caves would also help in conservation of the forest,” officials added.
According to CBET, 50 per cent of revenue generated would be used for maintenance and further development of that particular tourist spot while the rest will be paid to those who are involved in its operation.
The decision would shut the doors on AP Tourism river cruises to Akka Mahadevi caves and would also render private boat operators jobless.
Since the boat travelling to Akka Mahadevi caves from Pathalaganga in Srisailam is considered most exciting among all at Srisailam, the AP Tourism Department’s division at Srisailam would lose a big share of revenue to Telangana since it earns about Rs. 8 lakh a month from cruise operations to Akka Mahadevi caves.
