Patna: Chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday directed officials to accelerate eco-tourism and solarisation projects in the state’s natural and hilly regions through the public-private partnership (PPP) model, while ensuring protection of the environment and natural resources.Choudhary issued the instructions while chairing a review meeting of the department of environment, forest and climate change (DoEFCC) at Sankalp auditorium in Lok Sevak Awas here. He asked officials to prioritise development of eco-tourism and tourist facilities around Odhni Dam in Banka, Kharagpur Dam in Munger, Tarakol Dam in Nawada and Jalkund Dam in Munger district.CM directed DoEFCC to coordinate with departments concerned and speed up related projects. He said tourism potential should be developed in a way that conserves natural assets and the environment, promotes employment and economic activity at the local level, and provides visitors better facilities in natural surroundings.“At places where sufficient govt land is not available for the development of eco-tourism, schemes should be developed in PPP mode by purchasing or acquiring land as required,” Choudhary said.He instructed officials to act to ensure availability of land needed for eco-tourism development around Tarakol and Jalkund dams. He also said Kasaraiya Dhar in Khagaria should be developed as an eco-tourism site.Choudhary called for large-scale plantation around major ponds and reservoirs and said the state’s plantation target should be completed quickly to expand green cover. He laid special emphasis on eco-tourism in hilly and mountainous areas, saying only environment-friendly materials should be used there. Tourist amenities, he said, should be built using natural materials such as bamboo and wood.He also directed officials to explore ropeway construction wherever required from a tourism perspective and ordered solarisation work in hilly areas to promote green energy.DoEFCC additional chief secretary Anand Kishor presented updates on departmental works, eco-tourism prospects, tourist facilities near reservoirs and dams, plantation initiatives and environment-friendly tourism in hilly areas.
