Centre gives go-ahead to tribal haat project

KHAMMAM: The Union ministry of tourism has approved the the tribal haat project proposed at Yetipaka village near Bhadrachalam.After the Union had agreed to the tribal haat project in principle, the state government had sent the detailed project report (DPR) for the project, prepared by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial And Technical Consultancy Organisation (APITCO) in 2009. The cost of the project was estimated to be Rs 5.22 crores.With no response from the ministry of tourism for a year or so, tribals in the region were a worries lot as they believe the haat will be a platform for them to find an easy market access for the minor forest produce and artifacts including bamboo products. District tourism officer, Suman Chakravarthy, said that they had already received the communication from the Union government to this effect.In pursuit of the execution of the project, the tourism department have acquired about six acres land in Yetipaka village near Bhadrachalam town, he said. As per of the proposal, many facility would come up in the proposed tribal haat including food courts, children amusement park on par with the Silparamam in Hyderabad. A tribal museum also would come up in the haat showcasing the socio-cultural heritage of the tribals in the state. Expressing happiness over the approval of the project, Adivasi Sankeshma Parishad state convener, S Veeraiah, said the tribal haat would be a great help to the tribal artisans in popularising their products.