BANGALORE: In order to reduce tourists’ burden on national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the state, the state government is mulling to develop small reserve forests to divert tourist attraction. Informing this to media persons here on Friday, forest minister C P Yogeshwar said that the city youths were heading to the national parks and wild life sanctuaries to beat the stress during the weekends. Of late, the number has increased, thus affecting the normal lifestyle of the wild animals. “It is in this background, we have decided to divert tourists from these places by developing reserve forests,” the minister added. When asked if the department had identified any such forests for development, he said: “The proposal is still in its initial stage; we will identify once we take a final decision on the issue”. The development of reserve forests will be taken-up under the proposed eco-tourism development board, for which the recent Cabinet had given clearance, the forest minister said.This apart, the department is also planning to develop zoos and national parks like Bannerghatta to attract more tourists. “We have sought `50 crore from the Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation for the purpose,” Yogeshwar said.
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