The Chhattisgarh Government will go for thematic development and beautification of areas at upstream of Saradih Barrage in Raigarh district of the State.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) will be developing water sports and integrated recreation facilities at various dams of the State, officials informed.
It is also developing the area around Gangrel dam in Dhamtari district of the State as an 'eco-ethnic destination' , officials informed.
It may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh Government will also be creating an ‘eco-ethnic’ tourist destination near the world famous Chitrakot water falls in Bastar region of the State, official sources informed.
The Chhattisgarh Government had been making strenuous efforts to improve the quality of infrastructure and provide basic amenities in the tourism circuits, officials informed.
Notably, the Union Tourism Ministry had also allocated Rs 99.94 crore to develop Tribal Tourism Circuit to highlight tribal culture to the domestic and foreign tourists in the year 2015-16.
The districts to be developed are— Jashpur, Kunkuri, Maipaat, Ambikapur, Maheshpur, Ratanpur Kurdur, Sarodha Dadar, Gangrel, Kondagaon, Nathiyanwagaon, Jagdalpur, Chitrakoot and Thirthgad. The Tribal Theme is being implemented in these districts and the project will be completed in a phased manner.
Similarly, other tourist circuits are also being developed.
Moreover, an amount of Rs 32 lakh had been released by the Bastar District Collector to construct Tourism Information Center at Jagdalpur.
Master plans worth Rs 25 lakh had been drafted to beautify lamni Park and road-crossings. Motel had been constructed at Theerathgad and channel fencing had been built at Chitrakoot and Theerathgad. Temporary tents had been constructed at Sirpur in Mahasamund district for the convenience of Kanwar passengers. About Rs 30.50 lakh had been sanctioned for a community hall at Sirpur.
Notably, Chhattisgarh exchanged MoUs worth Rs 12 crores for development of world-class tourist facilities during ‘Incredible India Tourism Investors’ Summit (IITIS)- 2016’ organised by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry and the Tourism Finance Corporation of India from September 21 to 23, 2016 in New Delhi to promote investments in Tourism sector in India.
Several key announcements were made at the valedictory session of the Summit.
The States like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Chattisgarh exchanged 86 MoUs during the session and many more are in the pipeline, aggregating close to Rs 15,000 crore, officials informed.
At the summit, Gujarat exchanged MoUs close to Rs 9,000 crore, Karnataka with Rs 2,600 crore, Rajasthan with Rs 1,000 crore, Uttarakhand with Rs 500 crore and Chhattisgarh with Rs 12 crores.
Notably, CTB had earlier also has decided to offer special concessions to the travel agents and tour operators for further boosting tourist traffic in the State.
Officials stated the Board will now charge an amount of Rs 1,000 for three year registration from these agents in order to provide services to the tourists.
Earlier, one year registration and validity charge amounting to Rs 1,000 was fixed for travel agents by the Board.
The Central Government has put up the anticipated timeline for completion of the Tribal Tourism Circuit in Chhattisgarh to be 2019-20.
The Tribal Tourism Circuit will provide an opportunity to the tourists to witness and experience tribal culture and traditions in Chhattisgarh, officials informed.
The key components for development under the project are ‘Ethnic Tourist Village’ and ‘Ethnic Tourist Development’, Destination Development and Wayside amenities.The project would be developed by CTB.
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 Rs 113.5 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 establish 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.
The State Government has already given administrative sanction of Rs Rs 3.94 crore for development and security of Saradih Barrage region in Raigarh district.
The Water Resources Department has issued necessary orders for implementing the project last year.
Notably, a number of existing and proposed power plant sites are located in the district which , as per Government plans, would be supplied water.
The State Government earlier had also provided administrative approval of Rs 28.76 crore for Baihamuda Barrage Scheme at Kurket River in Gharghoda block of Raigarh district.
The Baihamuda Barrage Scheme will supply water to the industrial units in the area, officials said.
The officials concerned have been instructed to complete the construction works under this scheme within given time-limit, they stated.
Notably, in the month of June last year, the State Water Resources Utilisation Committee allocated 49.80 million cubic meters of drinking and industrial water including 19.06 million cubic meters annually for industrial purpose and 30.74 million cubic meters for drinking and municipal supply.
