Keeping in view the vast potential of tourism in the state, Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel has directed the officials to provide basic facilities in tourist places from the point of view of tourists from country and abroad. He also directed the officers to work towards providing opportunities for livelihood to the local people near the tourist places. To develop water tourism in the state, he stressed on increasing facilities like cruise boats, motorboats, houseboats, and water parks in the identified water bodies. Shri Baghel also instructed the officers to prepare an action plan for the protection and promotion of heritage sites of historical and archaeological importance. On Tuesday, at his residence office, he did a departmental review regarding the possibilities of tourism in Chhattisgarh. The Chief Minister said in the meeting that facilities should be developed at tourist places according to the tourists of the state, country and abroad. Boating facility should be available in the water bodies available near tourist places, such places should be identified and developed as islands. He directed the officers to develop facilities like cruise boating and water parks at Satrenga in Korba, Khuntaghat in Bilaspur, Gangrel Bang in Dhamtari and Minimata dam of Hasdeo Bango. He said that high quality CCTV cameras should be installed for proper security of the tourists. Private participation should be encouraged for home-stays, budget hotels. He said that water tourism and cruise tourism should be developed. Cruise boats, motor boats, houseboats etc. should be developed to develop water tourism through private investors. In the meeting, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Mr. Arnabalgan P. informed that the work of the first phase has been almost completed at a cost of Rs.96 crore 10 lakh under the Swadesh scheme. Tribal tourism circuit is being developed under the scheme. Jashpur, Kunkuri, Kamleshwar, Mainpat, Maheshpur, Kurdar, Sarodha Dadar, Gangrel, Nathianwagaon, Kondagaon, Jagdalpur, Chitrakot and Tirathgarh have been included under the Tribal Tourism Circuit. The concept of ‘Eco Tourism Circuit’ has been prepared under Swadesh Darshan-II. This circuit covers the border area of Chilfi Valley, Achanakmar-Amarkantak Valley and Hasdeo Bango Dam. Its proposed cost is Rs.81 crore 26 lakh. Officials said that under the PRASHAD scheme, work is being done to develop the historical and archaeological site Sirpur as a Buddhist circuit theme. The concept plan has been prepared by the architect after inspecting the site. For this, the project has been prepared at a cost of Rs 65 crore 60 lakh. A plan has been prepared to develop Kudargarh in Surajpur district under the Prasad scheme. Its cost is Rs 45 crore 69 lakh. There is a plan to set up a ropeway in Kudargarh. For ropeway development, 0.79 hectares of forest land has been repatriated. The ropeway will be constructed with private participation. Its estimated cost will be about Rs 10 crore 88 lakh. Officials said that to promote water tourism in Chhattisgarh, Murusilly (Babu Chhotelal Srivastava) Dam Dhamtari, Sanjay Gandhi Reservoir, Khuntaghat, Ratanpur, Saroda Dam Kabirdham, Kodar Reservoir, Raipur, Malania Reservoir, Gaurela and Ghangha reservoir, Bilaspur have been selected. Like this:Like Loading… Continue Reading