AGARTALA, Feb 8 - The first Hornbill Festival of Tripura began today with the aim to conserve the hornbill bird and boost the livelihood of the people through tourism.
Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated the two-day festival at the Barmura Hill in west Tripura, one of the biggest hill ranges of the State which was renamed as Hathai Kotor last month. Hathai Kotor means the big hill in the Kokborok language.
Deb said that with the conservation of the hornbill bird, eco-tourism would flourish, enhancing the livelihood of the local tribes and other inhabitants of the Barmura Hill.
�A large number of foreign and domestic tourists as well as environmentalists and nature lovers are expected to come to the festival ensuring all-round development of the mountainous region. Under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana, all kinds of forest and environmental resources will be developed,� he said.
According to the Chief Minister, the traditional life, culture and customs of the indigenous people would also be developed through the protection of the hornbill.
Tripura�s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dvijendra Kumar Sharma said the two-day festival includes technical sessions on the conservation of biodiversity in the State, a fair, folk dances, skits and plays on nature conservation, besides academic discussions. � IANS
