Login
Myriad Faces Of Tourism  |
| September 04, 2010 |
 |
| With diverse experiences and research in sustainable tourism, EQUATIONS has the wherewithal to justifiably turn into an advisory... |
| The Equal and Opposite Effect |
| August 30, 2010 |
 |
| We have never before witnessed such a huge multi-billion rupee racket as the Commonwealth Games in... |
| State tourism policy scrutinized by various concerned organizations |
| August 29, 2010 |
 |
| The second and the final day of the Regional Consultation on Responsible Tourism in the North Eastern States of... |
| NE Tourism conference has an eye for future prospects |
| August 26, 2010 |
 |
| A two-day regional consultation on responsible tourism in the North Eastern states of India kicked off this... |
| NE tourism stakeholders to brainstorm at Gangtok for responsible tourism code |
| August 25, 2010 |
 |
| A two day regional consultation on ‘responsible tourism’ in the North-eastern region of India organized by... |
Rs 7,000-cr plan on cards for Aarey tourism zone
July 23, 2010
MUMBAI: The verdant, 3,162-acre Aarey Milk Colony could soon become more accessible and attractive to the public, with the state's dairy development department working on an ambitious Rs 7,000-crore plan to develop an entertainment zone, dairy institute, aquarium, biodiversAAREY.TIMd other attractions at one of Mumbai's most important green lungs.
Justifying his plans for the dairy tourism zone, dairy development minister Nitin Raut told TOI, "Every day, I receive `requests' (read: pressure) to apportion land for various purposes. So the only way to protect this open space now is to allow the public to access it.'' Raut was speaking just a few hours after mentioning his makeover plan in the legislative assembly on Thursday.
According to the plan, various features would be developed on 500 acres of the vast green expanse. Consultants Urban Pundit have proposed that on around 350 acres the natural biodiversity of the region could be preserved, essentially creating a mini-jungle that Mumbaikars could walk through. Another 100 acres would be an entertainment zone, complete with a roller-coaster, merry-go-round, Bollywood-style studio and so on. This section would generate revenue to help maintain the zone. A dairy institute would be set up on 25 acres for students to get training in various dairy activities. Visitors would be able to see how milk and other dairy products are produced. Students would sell the products at kiosks. There would also be a model adivasi settlement, an underground aquarium (using a natural pond), parks and open spaces. However, a zoo, long discussed in plans for Aarey, is not part of the project.
The dairy development department's plan would need the state cabinet's nod to become a reality. The blueprint aims to protect the natural biodiversity as well as allow people to enjoy one of Mumbai's most scenic places, Raut said.
The 3,162-acre expanse covers areas in Goregaon (E), Jogeshwari (E) and Andheri (E). It rests at the southern tip of the Borivli national park. Environmentalists have long held that the national park and Aarey are the only important open spaces left in the city.
There are also plans to resettle people who live in the colony. Raut said 180 acres of Aarey are either home to adivasis who live in 27 padas or slumdwellers who are encroachers. They would be rehoused on 33.24 acres of the colony under the SRA scheme.
Some environmentalists have shown cautious enthusiasm towards the tourism plan. Neera Punj, convenor of Citispace, said that on the face of it the proposal is a fantastic idea. "Aarey is a no-development zone (NDZ) and the plan is according to what is allowed in an NDZ. It would be perfect if the land is brought into the public domain. However, the state should ensure transparency throughout. That is the only way to gain the public's support,'' she said.
However, environmentalist Rishi Agarwal was more cynical. There have been similar grand ideas in the past, but land was only parcelled off to developers, he said. "The government was to allow only a golf course near Aarey, but today there is an entire township. Similarly, Fantasyland at Andheri (E) is now a housing complex. Past experiences make one uncomfortable and suspicious,'' he said. Agarwal said the state must also do an Environment Impact Assessment before carrying out development and make the report public. "There are too many vested interests, so the state must keep it transparent and not act hastily,'' he said.
Raut said they have already received queries from Universal Studios, USA-which has developed theme parks and entertainment zones in the US, Japan and Spain-and Genting Island, Malaysia. "The financial aspects are still to be worked out,'' he said.
Elsewhere, Singapore has turned its water bodies into recreation spaces and made them accessible to the public, the idea being that people then feel a sense of ownership and treasure the assets.
Rs 7,000-cr plan on cards for Aarey tourism zone
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City-Mumbai/Rs-7000-cr-plan-on-cards-for-Aarey-tourism-zone/articleshow/6202935.cms
23 July 2010
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City-Mumbai/Rs-7000-cr-plan-on-cards-for-Aarey-tourism-zone/articleshow/6202935.cms
23 July 2010
MUMBAI: The verdant, 3,162-acre Aarey Milk Colony could soon become more accessible and attractive to the public, with the state's dairy development department working on an ambitious Rs 7,000-crore plan to develop an entertainment zone, dairy institute, aquarium, biodiversAAREY.TIMd other attractions at one of Mumbai's most important green lungs.
Justifying his plans for the dairy tourism zone, dairy development minister Nitin Raut told TOI, "Every day, I receive `requests' (read: pressure) to apportion land for various purposes. So the only way to protect this open space now is to allow the public to access it.'' Raut was speaking just a few hours after mentioning his makeover plan in the legislative assembly on Thursday.
According to the plan, various features would be developed on 500 acres of the vast green expanse. Consultants Urban Pundit have proposed that on around 350 acres the natural biodiversity of the region could be preserved, essentially creating a mini-jungle that Mumbaikars could walk through. Another 100 acres would be an entertainment zone, complete with a roller-coaster, merry-go-round, Bollywood-style studio and so on. This section would generate revenue to help maintain the zone. A dairy institute would be set up on 25 acres for students to get training in various dairy activities. Visitors would be able to see how milk and other dairy products are produced. Students would sell the products at kiosks. There would also be a model adivasi settlement, an underground aquarium (using a natural pond), parks and open spaces. However, a zoo, long discussed in plans for Aarey, is not part of the project.
The dairy development department's plan would need the state cabinet's nod to become a reality. The blueprint aims to protect the natural biodiversity as well as allow people to enjoy one of Mumbai's most scenic places, Raut said.
The 3,162-acre expanse covers areas in Goregaon (E), Jogeshwari (E) and Andheri (E). It rests at the southern tip of the Borivli national park. Environmentalists have long held that the national park and Aarey are the only important open spaces left in the city.
There are also plans to resettle people who live in the colony. Raut said 180 acres of Aarey are either home to adivasis who live in 27 padas or slumdwellers who are encroachers. They would be rehoused on 33.24 acres of the colony under the SRA scheme.
Some environmentalists have shown cautious enthusiasm towards the tourism plan. Neera Punj, convenor of Citispace, said that on the face of it the proposal is a fantastic idea. "Aarey is a no-development zone (NDZ) and the plan is according to what is allowed in an NDZ. It would be perfect if the land is brought into the public domain. However, the state should ensure transparency throughout. That is the only way to gain the public's support,'' she said.
However, environmentalist Rishi Agarwal was more cynical. There have been similar grand ideas in the past, but land was only parcelled off to developers, he said. "The government was to allow only a golf course near Aarey, but today there is an entire township. Similarly, Fantasyland at Andheri (E) is now a housing complex. Past experiences make one uncomfortable and suspicious,'' he said. Agarwal said the state must also do an Environment Impact Assessment before carrying out development and make the report public. "There are too many vested interests, so the state must keep it transparent and not act hastily,'' he said.
Raut said they have already received queries from Universal Studios, USA-which has developed theme parks and entertainment zones in the US, Japan and Spain-and Genting Island, Malaysia. "The financial aspects are still to be worked out,'' he said.
Elsewhere, Singapore has turned its water bodies into recreation spaces and made them accessible to the public, the idea being that people then feel a sense of ownership and treasure the assets.