V.S. Palaniappan

TOURIST ATTRACTION: The forest department is drawing up ambitious plans to promote eco tourism at Kovai Coutrallam. - Photo: K. Ananthan

Coimbatore: Here's a good news for entertainment- starved Coimbatoreans. The forest department is busy drawing up ambitious plans for promoting eco tourism at Kovai Coutrallam.

The department of tourism and the district administration have allocated Rs. 30 lakh for promotion of eco tourism activities at Kovai Coutrallam, at the foothills of Siruvani, about 35 km from here. An old proposal for a facelift to Kovai Coutrallam has been revived with a lot of improvements and additions.

The proposal was mooted by the Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle, P.C. Tyagi. It was pursued by the District Collector, Neeraj Mittal, who obtained a financial allocation of Rs. 30 lakh, said the District Forest Officer, I Anwardeen.

With the end of the monsoon season, the works would commence shortly and the spot would be ready to welcome the tourists during the next summer vacation, Mr. Anwardeen assured.

The focus will be on promoting restricted, regulated, and guided tourism at Kovai Coutrallam, he said. An awareness creation centre that would give insight into the rich flora and fauna with both indoor and outdoor exhibits, a trekking shed for limited number of persons are on the cards.

The trekking shed would provide a night stay in the jungles for tourists once a month with a guide. For children, an eco-friendly park would come up.

The railings at the falls are being improved besides de-silting and strengthening the ponds.

A watchtower for protection measures and re-laying of the road from Chinnar check post to the parking lot was also on the cards.