Jaipur: To promote Jhalana Forests as an eco-tourism park, the forest department has proposed a 30km safari route.

“There is a proposal for eco-tourism at Jhalana that would encompass trekking, overnight camping, bird watching and nature camps for tourists as well as students. It is estimated to cost Rs158 lakh. The 30-km safari route, likely to cost Rs 20 lakh, would pass through Neem Gatta, Sikarodhi, Watch Tower, Chitalbada, Lalakund, Kali Mata Temple, shooting range and finally to Jhalana Park-II.

Jaipur:Around 29,692 hectares of forest land is under encroachment in Rajasthan, according to the latest figures of the ministry of environment and forests. While the country boasts of over 19.57 lakh hectares of encroached forest land as compared to 17,94,879 hectares in 2009.

The data shows that the encroachments on forest land have increased over the past five years in the country. Rajasthan already has very few natural forests. The statistics for the last five years show that Bundi district in the state leads with 8878 hectares of encroached forest land. Followed by Chittorgarh 6354 hectares and Dungarpur 4426 hectares. Alwar had 454 hectares, Dausa 372 hectares, Hanumangarh 113 hectares and Ajmer had 45 hectares of forest land under encroachment.

JAIPUR: Come May and the country's first five-star rated green building in Achrol exclusively dedicated to environment audit will be ready to be inaugurated by Vice-President Hamid Ansari.

Jaipur: Despite tall claims by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Rajasthan on strategies to dispose of bio-medical waste, successive (3rd, 4th and 5th) Common Review Mission (CRM) reports h

JAIPUR: Rajasthan has the least availability of water and the least reliable supply, with only 162 out of the state's 222 towns receiving water everyday, says a World Bank report. India, while maintaining the targeted subsidies for the poor, can also provide more and better quality of water to its citizens, the report states.

The report, Improving Urban Water Supply & Sanitation Services - Lessons from Business Plans for Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Haryana and International Good Practices seeks to address the key issues facing the water sector in India's states and cities.

Jaipur:The natural and manmade lakes in the state are at varying states of degradation and some have become history. Waking up to the crisis, the state government will now table the Rajasthan Lake Development Authority Bill, 2013 in the coming session of the assembly.

The proposed bill would provide for the establishment of an authority for the purposes of protection, conservation, restoration, regeneration and integrated development of the lakes of the state.

Jaipur Zoo May Also Become Part Of Nahargarh Park

Jaipur: The Nahargarh hills in the city may soon become a destination for wildlife lovers coming to Jaipur if a proposal to start tiger safari in the sanctuary area is approved. The idea is to cash on tourists who visit Amber by creating an additional tourism facility. Besides the forts and the museums, Jaipur would also become a potential wildlife destination and a quick substitute to Ranthambore and Sariska Tiger Reserve.

Jaipur: In an ambitious conservation plan, sloth bears may be introduced in the Sariska Tiger Reserve. Following the successful relocation of tigers, the initiative aims to re-introduce an animal that had disappeared from Sariska during the early twentieth century.

Bina Kak, minister of tourism for forests and environment, said, “Sloth bears would be re-introduced from Kota and Mount Abu. Sloth bear population in Mount Abu is beyond what the area can hold leading to man-animal conflict. The genetic stock of the sloth bears from Kota and Mount Abu areas and of Sariska is assumed to be similar as they are in semiarid areas in Aravalli hills.”

Jaipur: The Man Sagar is teeming with birds these days and it’s time again for the annual bird fair in Pink City. Compared to previous years, the lake has significantly improved.

Jaipur: For the wildlife lover who cannot travel to Ranthambore or Sariska every now and then, the Jhalana forest area is proving to be a great alternative. The panther spotting at the forest makes up for the lack of tigers.

And, if the proposal to declare the forest area as a sanctuary comes through, it would be another feather in the cap for Jaipur, a much sought-after tourist destination in the country.