The Resort owned by Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) in Barnawapara Wild life Sanctuary in Mahasamund district has an ‘unconventional’ way of drawing a vast swell of tourists to the spot.
The Resort is utilising solar power to meet its electricity requirements in a region where conventional source of power is hard to get.
“Our prime concern was to power the resorts lacking electricity connections. We have succeeded in illuminating two resorts, one at Barnawapara and other at Gangrel. The former is undoubtedly generating more profit from our property with increasing turnout of tourists,” said Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) Managing Director Santosh Kumar Misra.
Misra further stated popularity of both the resorts bank on the electricity produced by the solar power plants.
Notably, Chhattisgarh is among only two other states which had sent a proposal to the Union Ministry of Tourism for its theme-based ‘Swadesh Darshan’ scheme for development of eco-tourism infrastructure in the State.
The proposal by Chhattisgarh is for ‘Integrated Development of Eco Tourism’ circuit in Rajmergarh–Kabir Chabutra-Achanakmar Tiger Reserve- Kurdar-Sirpur-Kodar Dam-Gangrel Dam-Kanger Valley National Park, officials informed.
The Telangana State had sent proposal for ‘ Integrated Development of Eco Tourism circuit’ in Mahaboobnagar District and Kerala has sent proposal for ‘Integrated Development of Eco Tourism’ circuit in Gavi – Pathanamthitta
Promotion, development of tourism and its infrastructure including promotion of eco-tourism/heritage tourism is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, officials stated.
The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for projects that are complete as per existing scheme guidelines and are sanctioned subject to availability of scheme/funds and utilization of funds released earlier.
Notably, in 2014-15, the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) had drawn up ambitious plans to develop India’s biggest 'Eco-tourism hub' in the State, an official press release issued last year had stated.
The press release had stated that CTB had already received a Rs113.5 crores project prioritisation go ahead from the Union Ministry of Tourism to take its plans forward.
The CTB, under the aegis of the Chhattisgarh Government had created a blue-print of future tourism plans that will help make Chhattisgarh as India’s biggest 'Eco-Tourism hub, it had stated.'
Based on the fact that Chhattisgarh is blessed with 80% bio-diversity and a melange of natural abundance tops in natural tourism where three national parks, 11 wildlife sanctuaries, more than 30 significant waterfalls, abundant caves and untouched natural topography , the CTB seeks to promote tourism in the State at an international level through its ambitious future plans, it stated.
Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Tourism has an following initiatives to boost eco-tourism in the country to evolved a Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI) for three major segments of the tourism industry, namely accommodation, tour operators, Beaches, Backwaters, lakes and Rivers sectors, which is applicable for the entire country.
This is apart from guidelines issued for approval of Hotel Projects at the implementation stage and also for classification or re-classification of operational hotels under various categories mandate incorporation of various eco-friendly measures like installation of Sewage Treatment Plant, Rain water Harvesting, Waste Management System, Pollution Control and Introduction of non-Chlorofluorocarbon equipment for refrigeration and air conditioners, energy and water conservation measures.
