NDBR sanctions work plan worth Rs 24.50 crore

Work plan amounting to Rs 24.50 crore was approved for the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) for the period from 2017 to 2022. The approval was granted in the meeting of the NDBR state level meet chaired by the chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh here on Thursday.

In the meeting the chief secretary directed that biodigester toilets be installed on the Valley of Flowers trekking route, routes to Badrinath be improved and that the maintenance of Taptkund be improved. He further directed that better facilities should be made for trekking and mountaineering.

It was stated in the meeting that the NDBR which encompasses the Nanda Devi National Park and the Valley of Flower National Park is of vital importance from the view point of biodiversity. Officials said that self employment and basic facilities are being provided to the people of villages on the border of the biosphere reserve. Regulated community based tourism has been developed in the region.

It should be mentioned here that the Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers national parks were inscribed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. Encompassing the two national parks, NDBR contains protected area of 2,236 square kilometres. It is famous across the world or its unique Himalayan flora and fauna. Apart from a rich diversity of flora, the region is also known for wildlife including the snow leopard, Himalayan musk deer, Himalayan bear, blue sheep and a wide variety of avi-fauna.