Satkosia beckons you

BHUBANESWAR: Good news for nature lovers. Those who want to soak in the serene atmosphere of Satkosia, with the gorgeous Mahanadi flowing by the side, a community-managed nature camp in Chotkei village is all set to challenge the nature lover in you. This eco-tourism initiative which has been developed under the Orissa Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP) with support from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will be run by the Eco Development Committee (EDC) which has been operating the tented facilities on the river bed of Mahanadi for last several years. The camp is designed with ecologically sound architecture which merges with the local village surroundings. The cottages have been constructed as far as possible on low carbon-footprint using environmentally friendly materials like compressed earth bricks, bamboo, bamboo corrugated  sheets and paddy straw thatching. The construction was done by the villagers of Chotkei with local artisans and masons. The camp is located within the Chotkei village area on a non-forest land. The camp will be managed by the local households of Chotkei village. For this, 14 households were identified and trained and exposed on hospitality management, catering, housekeeping, reception services at the Hotel Management and Catering Institute, Bhubaneswar. The benefits from the camp will be shared among the households and the village Eco-development Committee towards livelihood improvement. Currently, there are five cottages with a dining space and reception hall. The entire camp area has been landscaped too. The visitors can take cruise in the Mahanadi river and avail of guided nature treks. Official sources said the OSFDC sanctioned Rs 32 lakh from under its Bio-diversity Conservation component for the project and plans to augment facilities with more investment. Another five cottages will be set up subsequently. Minister of Commerce and Transport Sanjib Kumar Sahoo unveiled the camp on Wednesday. Project Director of OSFDC Vinod Kumar said the project would go a long way in providing alternative livelihood support to the poor and marginal households residing in Satkosia.