Gujarat is considering developing eco-tourism in the state as the state chief minister Narendra Modi has expressed his desire to develop eco tourism in Gujarat to promote tourism activities for the bird viewers in Gujarat.
During his meeting with Abran Markat Kabraji, Asian Regional Director of International Union for Conservation of Nature, Modi mentioned that Gujarat has a high level of biodiversity and is blessed with a huge seacoast, Gulf of Kutch, islands and a variety of local and foreign birds. "And so, the state government desires to develop eco tourism and to promote tourism activities for the bird viewers in the state," he said.
She took note of the state government’s extension in the direction of environment protection and discussed the possibility of tying up with the state for an eco-friendly growth. The chief minister also gave details of the project in which solar power will be produced by putting up solar panels on the Narmada canals and how ten million litres of water will be saved from evaporating from the canals.
Meanwhile, the state government is organising the Rann Utsav a tourism festival in the white desert of Kutch in Gujarat during December 15, 2011 to January 15, 2012. Giving details of the festival state government spokespersons ministers Jay Narayan Vyas and Saurabh Patel informed that the visitors would see a host of attractions like camel safari, hot air ballooning, desert car rally, horse ride, all-terrain vehicle and food court besides the cultural programmes depicting the culture of Kutch. "Last year some 800 tourists visited Kutch while this year about 32,000 visitors have visited the place so far," the ministers said.
Spokespersons said the state government has announced a special package keeping in mind the Christmas and the New Year celebrations. The traditional eco-friendly houses of Kutch known as ‘Bhunga’ will also be made available to the tourists. The government will organise beach festival on the seashore of Mandvi and a special kite festival will be organised in the white rann.
Highlighting the ‘Kutch Carnival’ that would take place on the eve of Rann Utsav, the ministers maintained that about 32 artist groups will perform on the banks of the historical Hamirsar Lake in Bhuj. Tourists would be able visit various archeological sites and could watch flamingos. Tourists could also see the beauty of Black mountain and could visit the border areas of India and Pakistan, they informed.