DESTINATION JHARKHAND: HAPPENING SOON
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”In Jharkhand wonders don’t lie in museums; they live and breathe around you” has been the official slogan coined by the state government to promote tourism.
However, even a decade after Jharkhand was created, tourism is yet to take off in a big way despite the state having some of the country’s best scenic spots, rich wildlife and magnificent waterfalls, not to speak of serene towns like Deogarh and Netarhat, says a report in the Financial Express.
Tourism minister Bimla Pradhan said, ”Part of the problem lies in the Naxalite menace the state has been grappling with for a long time coupled with unstable governments.” The unstable governments hamper continuity of tourism policies framed by earlier regimes.
As many as 18 of the 24 districts in Jharkhand are Naxalite-affected and some of the best attractions like the Palamau Tiger Project at Betla, Hazaribagh National Park Magnolia Point at Netarhat famous for sun set view, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district are in those districts.
Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for sloth bears and leopards. Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district has Asia’s best sal trees.
The present Arjun Munda government expresses determination to focus anew on development of tourism in the state. The Jharkhand Tourism Development Coporation launched `Heritage Walk’ under which tourists would be taken to historic places and natural spots like waterfalls around Ranchi, the minister said.
”We can’t deny the Naxalite problem, which is also a national problem, but we have new plans to attract tourists and we are determined to promote the sector,” Bimla Pradhan said.
The government plans to organise package tours this winter with Ranchi as the base station wherefrom tourists will be taken to the waterfalls like Dassam, Jonha and Honudru .
A facelift to the centuries-old Jagannatth temple in Ranchi is also on the cards for which Rs 70 lakh has been earmarked.
”Though we don’t have any central fund for new projects, we have embarked upon implementing the old schemes,” Pradhan said.
The state has beautiful rest houses at national parks, but the Maoist blasts over the years have damaged many of them including the under-construction one at Madhuban in Giridih district where the famous Parasnath temple is situated.
Proposals for setting up water sports at famous dams like Tilaiya, Maithon and Massanjore besides Chandil, Tenughat, Rukka and Kanke are also being taken up. Private operators would develop water sports in these dams. ”The state forest department has already announced proposals to ban construction of commercial establishments in a 10-km radius of national parks.”