Agartala, August 06, 2025: In a major step toward sustainable tourism and livelihood generation, the Tripura government has unveiled plans to set up six eco parks across the state, each with an estimated investment of ₹10 crore.

Speaking to media personnel on Wednesday, Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma announced that the eco parks will be established in six districts including Dhalai and South Tripura and will be developed on forest land under the operation of Joint Forest Management Groups (JFMG).

“These parks will not only attract tourists but also provide employment and income-generating opportunities to local communities,” Debbarma said. He added that the project would be funded through assets created under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The minister noted that the initiative is part of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha’s broader vision to transform Tripura into a tourism-friendly state with modern, eco-sensitive infrastructure.

Alongside the eco parks, the Forest Department is also preparing to launch roadside market centres and forest producers’ outlets aimed at supporting agricultural communities particularly those dependent on forest-based resources.

Under a combined budgetary support of ₹120 crore from JICA and the Indo-German Development Cooperation (IGDC), the state government plans to construct market facilities in various forest-rich regions. Specifically, 11 forest produce outlets are scheduled to be built in 11 blocks of Dhalai district, with each outlet receiving ₹50 lakh in funding.

“These centres will serve as a long-term resource for rural and tribal populations, empowering them to sell their agricultural and forest produce at fair prices. This integrated approach will ensure economic upliftment while preserving the ecological balance,” the minister stated.