Bhopal, May 2: Principal Secretary Forest, Biodiversity and Biotechnology and chairman of Madhya Pradesh Eco Tourism Development Board, Prashant Mehta chaired the third general meeting of the Board yesterday. The meeting reviewed the decisions taken last year and discussed figures of income and expenditure.

The important decisions taken at the meeting include developing Daulatpur forest rest house under Dewas forest circle as an ethnic jaunt by the Board immediately, eco tourism activities should be introduced in forests near Samardha forest house under Bhopal forest circle after improving it, ten forest rest houses be improved by the Board, the work of eco tourism infrastructure should be undertaken with the co-operation of Rural Development and other departments and large scale publicity of eco tourism be undertaken by shooting a short film of the eco tourism site and preparing a brochure thereof and also make people aware of it through radio.

Similarly, the Board meeting decided to further strengthen guide training programme launched last year, training to at least 400 watchmen of forest rest houses this year, a short film be shot for projecting Madhya Pradesh as a Tiger State and its CD should be provided free of cost to the tourists visiting eco tourism destinations in the state, FM radio channel be utilised for publicising eco tourism and a workshop be organised to create awareness about conservation of environment among radio jockeys, Ghughwa Fossil Park be connected to Kanha-Bandhavgarh eco tourism circuit and Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation should conduct a survey about possibilities of introducing house boats and hovercrafts in Tawa reservoir.

The meeting was informed that boating facility has been made available at Dhoopgarh tourist centre, Kathautia, Ralamandal, Tinchha Fall, Orchha Nature Reserve, Amarkantak and Morena Rajghat. The Board has launched eight other schemes and work on these schemes is under progress. Besides, 160 watchmen of forest rest houses have been trained at Tourism Corporation's Hotel Palash Residency Bhopal, Hotel Kalchuri Residency Jabalpur, Hotel Kshipra Residency Ujjain and Hotel Tansen Residency Gwalior.

As many as 700 students were exposed to experience of eco tourism at Kerwa with the co-ordination of School Education Department. Similarly, camps would be organised in all the 48 districts and 250 students would be provided experience of eco tourism at every camp. The Board got 450 guides of five Tiger Reserves trained and provided them uniforms, shoes and caps. The Board is preparing a guide manual for these guides.

The meeting was informed that guides would be imparted training of naturalist after closure of park in 2008. Besides, the Board would renovate forest rest houses so that tourist can enjoy natural beauty of forests and eco tourism activities. The Board is also undertaking efforts with the help of 15 government and non-government organisations for giving fillip to eco tourism.

Those present at the meeting included Principal Secretary Tribal Welfare OP Rawat, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests VR Khare, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) PB Gangopadhaya, Secretary, Rural Development Department, Wasim Akhtar, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation, Ashwini Lohani, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Rajya Laghu Vanopaj Sangh RK Dave, Managing Director, Forest Development Corporation, RS Negi, Superintending Archaeologist KK Mohammad, Chief Executive Officer, Eco Tourism Board, Ns Gopa Pandey and other officers of the department.