Chandigarh, June 7 -- In a major push to eco-tourism and wildlife conservation, the Punjab forest department has prepared a Rs.5.36-crore development plan for the Jhajjar-Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary in Rupnagar district.

Renamed the Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Wildlife Sanctuary in January, the site is poised to become the state's first major leopard tourism destination despite being among the smallest of the state's 13 wildlife sanctuaries.

According to estimates prepared by the wildlife department, the project will have a suite of eco-friendly facilities. These include a dedicated leopard safari, a nature interpretation centre, watch towers, walking trails, elevated decks, gazebos, wildlife viewing points, chain-link fencing, solar lighting...