IFS officer Vikas Nayak got here throughout a barren land within the ravines of Firozabad district in Uttar Pradesh. As soon as a breeding floor for thieves and dacoits, he evolved it right into a inexperienced oasis with wooden huts, geo treks, a butterfly park, and extra.
When Indian Wooded area Carrier (IFS) officer Vikas Nayak noticed the land the place Rapdi Eco Tourism Centre stands lately, he noticed immense attainable. Sitting barren proper subsequent to the River Yamuna, where was once a abandoned land with demise biodiversity.
“There was once one thing concerning the land which made me wish to preserve biodiversity. Once I noticed where, I may just envision a place a lot more than a barren plot. I in an instant began to attract a plan with my group,” he stocks in a dialog with The Higher India.
Conceptualised in 2023, 11 months later, Vikas was once ready to construct Rapdi Ecotourism Centre in conjunction with his group. “On its opening day, we had about 1,100 folks swarming where, which is so much for a spot like this,” muses Vikas.
Whilst making an attempt to save lots of the biodiversity of where was once a key issue, there was once one more reason to rejuvenate where — spreading consciousness about mindful tourism.
A ravine enjoy
Positioned a brief force clear of Shikohabad within the district of Firozabad, where is house to loads of bushes, wood huts, boats and much more and was once “taken as much as create the primary ecotourism facility within the district.”
“When I used to be first posted within the space, I realised the way it didn’t have any ecotourism position. The locals weren’t very energetic in herbal conservation both and I sought after to do something positive about it,” he says.
By the way, the officer began to go searching the realm and located the easiest position right here itself.
“It was once a really perfect position because it had ravine qualities and in addition a little bit elevation. I set out to drawing plans and making the cheap. We formulated a venture and offered it to the wooded area departments, securing investment for its implementation. Following the investment acquisition, which was once in March 2023, we began the paintings,” he informs.
Where was once finished and opened to the general public with no charge in February 2024. “Where was once additionally made retaining in thoughts that Agra — which draws numerous vacationers — is within reach. This guarantees that where would possibly get extra guests,” stocks Vikas.
The ecotourism centre has a plethora of actions but even so the biodiversity and plush greenery.
“Where features a ‘geo trek’, wood cottages for guests to e-book and keep, velocity boating, chicken gazing spots, cave explorations, a butterfly park and a cafeteria,” informs Vikas.
He provides, “We’ve got integrated some increased options, akin to a hillside terrain, and evolved geo treks for exploration. Moreover, we’ve established butterfly spots the place guests can be told concerning the wooded area and river ecosystems.”
Putting in and working an ecotourism centre
Ahead of the realm changed into an eco-tourism centre, Vikas informs that where was once a breeding floor for them and dacoits.
“We began with planting bushes within the spaces and bettering where’s greenery. We additionally arrange habitats for birds and butterflies. Even if where had many bushes, we began to plant extra and construct where across the bushes. The design was once such that it didn’t disrupt the present biodiversity of where,” he says.
Vikas sought after to create and draw in extra vacationers to the realm, and he additionally sought after to lift consciousness about eco and accountable tourism.
“It’s been within the historical past of the wooded area division to contain locals within the paintings. From serving to with keeping up the forests to putting in such tasks to rescuing flora and fauna, it’s been a convention for the dep. to hunt assist from the local people,” he says.
Taking this custom, Vikas mapped out a plan that will assist the local people develop.
“The power, which is now totally operational, advantages the local people by means of offering alternatives for them to regulate the canteen, parking amenities, and accumulating the access charges. Moreover, we’re undertaking hospitality coaching to make sure high quality carrier for guests, together with steerage on serving meals and interacting all the way through nature treks,” he says.
A committee has been established to supervise the power’s control, with a portion of the proceeds going to the federal government as royalty and the remaining being allotted to the group, he provides.
Moreover, where is a 100% plastic unfastened zone. “We don’t seem to be permitting any plastic throughout the park. We also are operating with SHGs and sourcing native artwork items comparable to jute luggage and wood artwork items to promote to the guests,” he informs.
In keeping with him, the clientele for this ecotourism challenge is exclusive, consisting of people who perceive and recognize accountable tourism practices. “As a accountable vacationer, one will have to recognise their carbon footprint and minimise environmental affect. In ecotourism, amenities could also be restricted, however the emphasis is on sustainability and immersion in nature,” he says.
Mohit, who travelled from Shikohabad in Uttar Pradesh to the eco-park, says, “I got here with my circle of relatives to discover the ecotourism centre. The federal government has taken an excessively new idea and grew to become it into a spot of game. It’s in point of fact excellent to peer this space flourish right into a inexperienced oasis.”
He provides that the butterfly park is his favorite phase concerning the park. “There could also be a small trek which is a laugh so that you can do along with your circle of relatives. A function that sticks out is that all of the space is pollution-free and does now not have any clutter. Guests also are getting consciousness and looking to stay where blank,” he provides.
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Discussing his long term plans, the IFS officer says, “We intend to enlarge the power and introduce new projects comparable to a plant library. This library will supply details about quite a lot of plant species, permitting guests to deepen their botanical wisdom. Our purpose is to provide immersive stories that foster appreciation for the herbal setting and encourage conservation efforts.”
(Edited by means of Padmashree Pande; All Photos credit score: Vikas Nayak)