Govt to develop two tourist villages

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, 17 Jan 2020, Siliguri: Chamakdangi and Laltongbusty -- two forest villages located on the fringes of Baikuthapur forest and around 25km from Siliguri -- will soon emerge as new tourist destinations.

State tourism minister Gautam Deb, who visited both the villages, where around 700 people live, said his department had decided to develop tourism infrastructure at the two hamlets.

They include cottages, tents, small park, cafeterias and dining spaces.

"We will build 14 cottages at Chamakdangi. There will be a cafeteria with dining space and people can enjoy spending staying here. I have already discussed the projects with officials of WBTDCL," said Deb.

He was into the villages, which also come under his Assembly constituency of Dabgram-Fulbari, to lay foundation stones of embankment and protection spar on the right bank of the Teesta.

The state irrigation department will spend Rs 3.5 crores for the work to protect the villages from floods and erosion caused by Teesta ­ that is nearby ­ during the monsoon. The work will be complete by March 31, said officials of the department.

The minister, while speaking of Laltongbusty, said, similar facilities for tourists will be developed at the village in the second phase.

"In this village, we are planning to introduce tents for tourists. There will be a small park and they can enjoy local ethnic cuisines and traditional cultural events. Local residents will be part of these projects and will run the facilities by forming self-help groups. Our department will monitor the entire process," mentioned Deb.

Local residents, who demand on dairy and farming, have welcomed the minister's decisions.

The new initiative can help them in increasing their earn- ings from an alternative means.

"We are mainly dependant on dairy and sale milk and other products at Salugara (a locality that is around 15 kilometres away from these villages and is on the northeast end of Siliguri). If tourists start coming here, it would obviously help us," said Kumar Rai, a resident of Laltongbusty.

Both the villages are located close to Sevoke and the Bengal Safari Park. Also, a road that would connect Bhorer Alo, the mega tourism hub in Gajoldoba, is likely to open in another couple of months' time..