Bhubaneswar: A proposed Rs 99cr integrated ecotourism project inside Satkosia Tiger Reserve has been opposed by wildlife conservationists, who have raised concerns over the ecological impact of planned construction activities under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme.The project, to be executed by the Odisha Bridge and Construction Corporation (OBCC), envisages the development of ecotourism infrastructure at six locations within and around the reserve. While two sites, Chhamundia and Kusang, fall under the Mahanadi division, the remaining four locations, Purunakote, Jagannathpur, Baliput and Tikarpada, are within the Satkosia division.The proposed facilities include arrival plazas at sanctuary entry points, interpretation centres equipped with photographs and videos, knowledge centres providing information about the reserve, and cafeterias for visitors. The initiative is aimed at improving visitor experience and strengthening ecotourism infrastructure. However, wildlife campaigners have questioned both the location of some of the facilities and the involvement of agencies outside the forest department.Wildlife activist Biswajit Mohanty alleged that the wildlife wing of the forest department was under pressure to implement the project. According to him, while ecotourism can benefit forests, wildlife and local communities when properly managed, the project in its present form risks serving interests unrelated to conservation.“The government should not have allowed the tourism department to intervene in a matter that falls within the domain of the forest department. Even if funds are available under the SASCI scheme, the forest department should implement the work itself rather than outsourcing it. Only the forest department fully understands the ecological significance of these areas,” he said.Concerns have also been raised over one of the proposed sites being located close to a habitat of the Schedule-I protected gharial. Naba Kishor Bisoyi, president of Satkosia Abhayaranya and Praja Surakshya Samiti (SAPSS), had earlier alleged that authorities had allowed construction activities by OBCC inside the reserve and were planning to reconstruct the Gharial Research and Conservation Unit (GRACU) at Tikarpada, a move he claimed was inconsistent with wildlife conservation norms.Another wildlife activist, Prasanna Behera, said ecologically sensitive species such as the gharial, mugger crocodile and Indian skimmer inhabit one of the six identified sites. “There is a clear difference between tourism and ecotourism. The tourism department should stay away from the project, and there is no precedent of a professional construction agency undertaking ecotourism work inside a tiger reserve,” he said.Responding to the criticism, Sanjay Swain, field director of Satkosia tiger reserve, said the forest department remains the implementing agency and that OBCC had been designated by the govt solely for construction work. He maintained that the planned ecotourism facilities would not affect wildlife or their habitats.