The Chhattisgarh State Tourism Department has offered administrative approval for release of a sum of Rs6.86 crore for development of basic facilities at tourist destinations in Jagdalpur district of Bastar region for the financial year 2012-13, said in an official statement issued here on Thursday.
State Tourism Minister Brijmohan Agarwal said in such statement that the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh is replete with natural, archaeological and historical tourist destinations.
He said that the State Government had been consistently advancing funds for the development of tourist facilities in the Bastar region.
In this regard, during the fianancial year 2012-13, the Government approved a sum of Rs6.86 crore for development of basic facilities in the tourist destinations in Bastar region, Agarwal said.
He said that as per the Centrally sponsored ‘Mega Circuit’, a sum of Rs32 lakh had been approved for the construction of a total of 16 ‘Pagodas’ on the Jagdalpur-Chitrakot-Barsoor-Tirthagarh-Dantewada circuit coming under Jagdalpur forest range.
The Minister said that a total of 10 ‘Pagodas’ had already been constructed while the rest are under construction. Similarly, under the same centrally sponsored project, a number of works are under development such as a lawn, planting of fruit bearing saplings, arrangement for irrigation and drinking water and 'Pagodas' at Kumhadakot Reserve Forest Area coming under ‘Eco Tourism Project’, he said.
The other works under construction at Kumhadakot are a walking track around the reserve forest area, water recharging structure and toilets. The total amount approved for the project stood at Rs76.27 lakh, Agarwal said. He said that under the Dhurva circuit of the project, a sum of Rs2.89 crore had been approved for development works at various places.
Under the same project, signages costing Rs31.73 lakh had been put up for the convenience of the tourists in the Dhurva tourist circuit, the Minister said.
Moreover, the setting up of 13 ‘luxury tents’ at the Chitrakot premises of Dandami Tourist Resort is under final stages of completion at a cost of Rs1.13 crore.
The resort had also been illuminated by solar lighting arrangement. The total cost of the project is Rs43.81 lakh, Agarwal said.
Moreover, a sum of Rs 57.41 lakh had been approved for development of a Tourist Information centre, Stage, Parking , Guard Room and toilets under the Centrally sponsored project, he said.
A ‘Viewing Walk Way’ is being developed at the Chitrakot Water fall costing Rs42.16 lakh for providing a panoramic view of the natural beauty at the tourist destination, the Minister added.