Tourism promotion plan in Chhattisgarh's red zone

Tourists avoiding places earlier had been enchanting destinations

Chhattisgarh government has chalked out a plan to promote tourist destinations in the Naxal-infested pockets.

“The Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has assured that the Centre would support and provide all assistance to the Chhattisgarh government in its efforts to boost tourism to combat Left-wing extremism in the state,” Chhattisgarh’s tourism minister Ajay Chandrakar said. He had a detailed discussion on the project with Sharma.

Chandrakar said Sharma had asked the officials of the ministry to expedite the process of clearing all the projects related to Chhattisgarh. He took a keen interest on Sirpur, Chitrakoot, Tirathgarh and Kutumsar caves.

Of the four centres, the last three are located in the red zone where Naxalites have their strong presence.

Following the Naxal terror, tourists had been avoiding the places that had been enchanting destinations. In last couple of years, the tourists flow in these centres had increased.

The Tirathgarh Falls is a block type waterfall on the Kanger River. The water plunges 91 metres (299 ft) in a single drop that attracts tourists. The Chitrakote Falls is known as Niagara Falls of India. The Kutumsar caves also give astonishing experience to the visitors.

“We have urged the union minister for co-operation in building hotels, motels and lighting facilities at Chitrakoot besides giving wide publicity to the Bastar Dassehra, Chitrakoot waterfalls, Kutumsar caves and Kanger valley national park,” Chandrakar said. The state had also proposed for developing Sirpur as Buddha circuit, he added.

The Union Minister had expressed his interest for setting-up the Chhattisgarh Kala Kendra. Sharma would be visiting the state soon to give the final shape to the proposals to promote tourism in Chhattisgarh.