An overall Rs 205.12 crore action plan has been prepared for conservation and development of world-famous Lonar crater in Buldhana district and out of this works of Rs7.5 crore have already been completed.Its development will be done with the help of community participation by understanding their problems. The action plan will be implemented to solve problems being faced by locals.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

=> The crater is a result of the meteorite impact that occurred 50,000 years ago.

=> The Lonar crater has been added to Ramsar sites, getting international protection. The lake is a part of Lonar wildlife sanctuary which was notified on June 8, 2000, with an area of 3.65 sqkm. The area of the lake is 77.69 hectares.

=> The need for developing it as an international tourist destination and directed the officials present at a review meeting not to develop the site at the cost of its rich biodiversity and forest in the area.

=> There are many ancient temples near the crater area and an option should be chosen whether to promote the forest or the temple tourism.

=> Out of Rs205 crore plan, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation will give Rs91.29 crore. This will include an interpretation centre, laboratory, museum, planetarium, roads, sewage disposal facility, parking, conservation of dilapidated temples.Rs61 crore will be spent on a sewage treatment plant to be established by Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran. Besides, Rs3 crore will be spent to remove ‘babool’ plants in 54 hectares by the forest department.