West Bengal to set up Eco-Tourism Board

Kolkata: The West Bengal government has decided to set up an Eco-Tourism Board to project the state as a major tourist destination.

State Tourism Minister Bratya Basu said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had directed the Tourism Department to go ahead with the setting up the board.

Accordingly, a task force composed of a host of professional consultants and senior officials has been set up to implement the decision.

"A comprehensive decision will be announced after the task force submits its recommendation to the government," Basu said.

The minister said that the state government had taken up developing a major tourist hub in the Dooars forest in north Bengal.

"The work for mega tourism projects at Gajaldoba in Jalpaiguri district, the gateway to the Dooars, has already started over 200 acres of land identified by the state government to build a mega-tourism project," Basu said.

"Over Rs 100 crore is lined up for investment in phases out of the state plan fund for infrastructure development on roads, power, drainage and water supply," he said, adding it would take about two years to complete.

The Tourism Department is also working on developing two new eco-tourism hubs at Sylee, adjacent to Malbazar, and Kunjanagar near Falakata in the Dooars over an area of 90 acres.

Sylee, situated around 62 km from Siliguri, is adjacent to Sylee tea garden and surrounded by hills, a river and greenery, making it an excellent tourist spot.

Activities like trekking, bird watching and jungle safari can be an added attraction for the tourists.

At Kunjanagar, around 105 km from Siliguri and close to the Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary, visitors can get a panoramic view of the area's natural beauty.

Meanwhile, tourist resorts have come up at Murthi in the Dooars and the Tourism Department is planning to develop Nature Interpretation Centre at Tilabari and Batabari in the area.