Prepare comprehensive plan for development of eco-tourism: CM

Patna: Bihar has immense potential for eco-tourism, CM Samrat Choudhary said on Saturday as he directed officials to prepare a comprehensive development plan for this and ensure all departments concerned work in concerted manner for this.Chairing a review meeting on eco-tourism at the CM’s secretariat, Choudhary said Bihar’s historical heritage, cultural landmarks and religious destinations should be linked with eco-tourism to create a broader tourism network across the state. “The state govt is fully committed to making Bihar an attractive destination for tourists from across the country and abroad, and developing it as a hub for spiritual, cultural and eco-tourism,” he said.The CM also asked officials to prepare a two-day tourism package for the Bihar ministers, legislators, state govt officials and employees, so that they can visit and stay at important tourist destinations in the state.Explaining the idea, Choudhary said, “To promote tourism in Bihar, we ourselves should visit tourist sites and spend time there, so that the general public can also be made aware of the tourist facilities and features available at those places.” He added, “The tourism packages should be prepared at the earliest, keeping in mind the convenience of tourists and to encourage them.”He further directed that tourist facilities be developed around all state govt reservoirs under the public-private partnership (PPP) model and asked officials to consult local people and seek their suggestions before moving ahead.Choudhary said the department of environment, forest and climate change should undertake plantations around all ponds belonging to the state govt and create tourist facilities there. “This will promote local employment, increase the state’s green cover area, and also facilitate water conservation,” he said.He also called for systematic development of wetland areas in the ‘chaur’ regions, along with plantations in surrounding areas. Eco-tourism structures should similarly be developed on the PPP model at all dams under the water resources department, he said. In hilly areas, helipads should be constructed so tourists can enjoy scenic valleys more easily.Referring to the Jain Circuit, Choudhary said, “A plan should be made to develop the Jain Circuit of the state as well, and for this, the people of the Jain community should be consulted and their cooperation sought.” He added that several works had already been undertaken to improve tourist facilities and preserve heritage sites in Bihar.Among those present were principal secretary to the CM Deepak Kumar; development commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh; ACS Anand Kishore; principal secretary Santosh Kumar Mall, and secretaries Anupam Kumar and Kumar Ravi.