Kambalakonda sanctuary to get eco-friendly night-stay units

Visakhapatnam: The forest department is planning to introduce night-stay facilities at the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary by constructing half a dozen cottages to attract more tourists. The idea was suggested recently by deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan during his visit to the Zoo Park and Kambalakonda.Kambalakonda, spread over 17,000 acres within city limits, has an eco-tourism park, boating facilities, trekking routes, and other attractions. The sanctuary came under the control of the Andhra Pradesh forest department on March 10, 1970. Earlier, it belonged to the Maharajah of Vizianagaram. The 70 sq km area features dry evergreen forest mixed with scrub and meadows, with hilly terrain and steep slopes.Following the deputy CM's suggestion, local forest authorities have begun planning night-stay options. According to Forest Department officials, each cottage will cost between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh. "Night stays are available and permitted in national parks, tiger reserves, and sanctuaries in various states. People prefer night stays in forest areas. We will not opt for permanent structures; these will be temporary or semi-permanent structures that will not harm the reserve forest," chief conservator of forests (CCF) B M Diwan Mydeen said.The department is preparing proposals for government approval, stating that the cottages will support eco-tourism as well as wildlife-based training, surveillance, and related activities. The structures will be eco-friendly and semi-permanent, and will require clearances from the competent authorities, officials added.Kambalakonda currently offers boating, trekking, and adventure activities. It earns around Rs 4 lakh per month from entry fees, drawing more than 300 visitors daily and over 500 on weekends. Around Rs 3 lakh is spent each month on staff salaries and maintenance. The night-stay facility is expected to boost revenue.The sanctuary has three trekking routes measuring 3 km, 2 km, and 7 km, along with two viewpoints and three picnic spots. It hosts several endemic species and is home to jackals, civets, rabbits, mongoose, spotted deer, sambars, and various snake species.