Tag: Sundarbans

Bengal Safari Park to roll out Tiger Safari soon

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Bengal Safari Park in north Bengal will soon roll out the much-awaited Royal Bengal Tiger safari by the end of January. Two Royal Bengal tigers brought from Odisha have already arrived at the park.

Two tigers – a male and a female – are being kept in isolation for at least three weeks before being put inside the enclosure and put up for public viewing. Park authorities have already constructed a tiger enclosure over 20 hectares.

The park is the biggest jungle safari in the state and is fast emerging as a major tourist attraction. The park is spread over 297 hectares of natural forest land consisting of sal and other trees. The park will have four large safaris like mixed herbivore safari (91 ha) and tiger safari (20 ha).

The mixed herbivore safari is already doing brisk business while the tiger safari would add to the attraction. Visitors are taken to these safaris in specially designed vehicles.

Lesser cats, fresh water crocodile and gharial and representative birds of North Bengal are displayed in large enclosures in the park here.

Night shelters, pavilions and gardens will be created for the tigers. Artificial hills and streams will also be created to give the park a completely natural look. Visitors would be able to watch tigers from a separate enclosure. A hospital for injured tigers is almost ready too.

 

উত্তরবঙ্গের ‘বেঙ্গল সাফারি পার্কে’ চালু হতে চলেছে ‘টাইগার সাফারি’

উত্তরবঙ্গের ‘বেঙ্গল সাফারি পার্কে’ খুব শিগগিরি চালু হতে চলেছে ‘টাইগার সাফারি’; জানুয়ারী মাসের শেষেই এর উদ্বোধন করতে পারেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। উড়িষ্যা থেকে দুটি রয়াল বেঙ্গল টাইগার হয়েছে এই সাফারি পার্কে।

লোকসমক্ষে আনার আগে বাঘ দুটিকে তিন সপ্তাহ ‘আইসোলেশনে’ রাখা হবে। এর জন্য একটি ২০ হেক্টরের ‘টাইগার এনক্লোজার’ বানানো হয়েছে।

এই পার্কটি রাজ্যের সবচেয়ে বড় জঙ্গল সাফারি পার্ক। পর্যটন কেন্দ্র হিসেবে খ্যাতিও অর্জন করেছে বেঙ্গল সাফারি পার্ক। ২৯৭ হেক্টরের এই পার্কটি তৈরী হয়েছে প্রাকৃতিক জঙ্গলেই। টাইগার সাফারি ছাড়াও এই পার্কে থাকছে তৃণভোজী প্রাণীর সাফারি। বিশেষ গাড়ি করে এই সাফারিতে নিয়ে যাওয়া হয় পর্যটকদের।

বাঘ ছাড়াও এখানে রয়েছে অন্যান্য বিড়াল প্রজাতির পশু, কুমির, ঘড়িয়াল ও নানা প্রজাতির পাখি। তৈরী হচ্ছে বাঘেদের জন্য নাইট শেল্টার। কৃত্তিম পাহাড় ও ঝর্ণা তৈরী করার পরিকল্পনাও রয়েছে। বিশেষ ‘এনক্লোজার’ থেকে বাঘ দেখতে পারবেন পর্যটকরা।

Bengal ranks fifth in preferred tourist states

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Ranking fifth among the states in terms of foreign tourists’ destination, Bengal is climbing up in the tourism sector.

The State has turned out to be a preferred destination among foreign tourists than domestic tourists. Recording a higher percentage of foreign tourists, Bengal has drawn 6.4 per cent of foreign tourists compared to 4.9 per cent of domestic tourists, according to a report published by the Ministry of Tourism.

Of the 2.06 crore foreign tourists that the country has recorded in a year, 14.8 lakh came to Bengal. Among the top five states, Tamil Nadu has drawn the maximum number of 20.1 per cent foreign tourists.

It has ranked eighth among the top 10 states with 7.01 scrore with Indian tourists visiting Bengal out of the total 119.7 crore domestic tourists visiting the 10 states.

Stressing on the various initiatives that are being taken for promoting Bengal as a prospective destination for tourism in the domestic market, the State Tourism Minister said that roadshows are being conducted regularly in other states.

It is a sustained effort and it will take some more time to get the outcome, the State Tourism Minister said adding that the law and order situation in the state is an added advantage for tourism. Along with promoting Bengal tourism through the website and social networking sites, a series of advertisements featuring brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan will be released during the Bengal Global Business Summit in January 2017, he said.

The Tourism Department has also prepared pamphlets on 20 prominent tourist spots along with detailed information on accommodation, booking and other essentials. The list of places to visit include the Himalayan delights of Darjeeling, the verdant Dooars, the historic midland of Murshidabad and Malda, colonial structures of Kolkata, mangrove forests of Sundarbans, tribal hinterland of ‘Jangalmahal’.

 

পর্যটনে বাংলা এখন পঞ্চম স্থানে

পর্যটনে রাজ্য এখন দেশের মধ্যে পঞ্চম স্থান অধিকার করেছে। ভারতীয় পর্যটকদের থেকেও বিদেশী পর্যটকদের কাছে বেশি আকর্ষণীয় হয়ে উঠেছে আমাদের রাজ্য। পর্যটন মন্ত্রক থেকে পেশ করা এক রিপোর্ট অনুযায়ী বাংলায় বিদেশী পর্যটক আসেন ৬.৪ শতাংশ আর ভারতীয় পর্যটক আসেন ৪.৯ শতাংশ।

এই তালিকার শীর্ষে আছে তামিলনাড়ু যেখানে ২০.১ শতাংশ বিদেশী পর্যটক যায়।

ভারতীয় পর্যটকদের হিসেবে বিচার করলে বাংলার স্থান অষ্টম। ভারতীয় পর্যটকদের এখানে আসার জন্য আরো উত্সাহিত করতে বিভিন্ন পদক্ষেপ নেওয়া হচ্ছে। রাজ্যের পর্যটন মন্ত্রী জানান পর্যটকদের আরও উত্সাহিত করতে বিভিন্ন রাজ্যে রোড-শো করা হচ্ছে।

তিনি আরও জানান, পর্যটনের উন্নতির জন্য রাজ্যের শান্তি শৃঙ্খলা একটি অন্যতম কারণ। ওয়েবসাইট ও সোশ্যাল নেটওয়ার্কিংয়ের মাধ্যমে বিজ্ঞাপনের পাশাপাশি ২০১৭ সালের জানুয়ারী মাসে বিশ্ব বঙ্গ বাণিজ্য সম্মেলনের সময় বাংলার ব্র্যান্ড অ্যাম্বাসাডর শাহরুখ খানের ফটো সম্বলিত আরো অনেক বিজ্ঞাপনও প্রকাশ করা হবে।

পর্যটন দফতরের বাছাই করা ২০টি জনপ্রিয় পর্যটন কেন্দ্রের ওপর যাবতীয় সব তথ্য দিয়ে প্যামফ্লেটও তৈরী করা হয়েছে।

 

Tourism gets special focus under Trinamool Government

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The West Bengal Government under the leadership of Ms Mamata Banerjee has made developments in every sector in every districts of the State. The Chief Minister has visited each district, chaired meetings across the State with the district officials from Darjeeling to Sundarbans to take stock of ongoing projects and plan newer ones. Identifying new tourist spots and creation of infrastructure for tourists have been one of the agendas of the Chief Minister during her numerous district visits.

The Trinamool Government under Ms Mamata Banerjee had rightly identified that West Bengal with its varied natural beauty has the capability to attract tourists from national and international sphere, and thus earn huge revenue. However, after 34 years of Left misrule, the tourism infrastructure in the State was in tatters. So, firstly, it was decided to renovate the existing to a quality standard and then identify the newer options.

Increased planned expenditure In Tourism under Trinamool Government

In the four year, from 2007-08 to 2010-11, the planned expenditure in Tourism under the Left Government was on an average Rs 16.88 crore only. In the first four years of the West Bengal Government under Trinamool Congress, the planned expenditure in Tourism rose to a total of Rs 331.93 crores, which is Rs 82.95 crores on an average per year. In the years 2011-12 the the planned expenditure on tourism was Rs 30.64 crores. It was increased to Rs 52.62 in 2012-13 and in 2013-14 it further increased to Rs 81.16 crores. In 2014-15, the planned expenditure (revised) was Rs 167.50 crores.

It is observed that while the past Left Government was downsizing the planned expenditure on Tourism year after year, the present Government under Trinamool has been instrumental in increasing the same.

Completed Tourism projects under Trinamool Government

As published on the Economic review2014-15, the following tourism projects have been completed since May 2011:

• Construction and renovation of cottages in different locations at Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong

• Tourism centres in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts

• Tourism centres in Cooch Behar

• Construction of Maldah Museum

• Motijhil tourism centre in Murshidabad

• Chupchar project, Batukeshwar Dutta project and Gopinath Sabji project in Bardhaman

• Ballavpur-Sharmbati project in Birbhum

• Gadiara tourism centre in Howrah

• Furfura Sharif and Chandannagar tourism centres in Hooghly

• Kashipur Mahashram, Kolkata Maidan, Police Museum, College Street, Eden Gardens and other such projects in Kolkata

• Malancha Tourist Lodge in North 24 Parganas

• Tourism projects in Gangasagar and Basanti in South 24 Parganas

• Digha Tourist Lodge in Purba Medinipur

Newer tourism projects are coming up in Bengal

The West Bengal Government has taken up a ne Tourism Incentive Policy in 2015. Under the initiative of the West Bengal Chief Minister, Eco-tourism, Home Tourism and Tea Tourism have been included under this policy.

New projects that are coming up include the Gajaldoba Mega Tourism project, Jharkhali Eco-tourism project, Sabujdwip Eco-tourism project and Jhargram Rajbari Heritage project. Besides, facilities of home-stays are being identified at Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Mukutmanipur and other places of scenic beauty.

Bottomline

The West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee has time and again given suggestions regarding different tourism projects and providing proper facilities to the tourists. The State Government is following the suggestions and also taking part in different tourism fairs nationally and internationally in order to promote Bengal and attract tourists. From Gangasagar in the south to Darjeeling in the north, special focus is being given to tourism and this will be a major success for the State in the coming years.

Pratima Mandal speaks on Budget (Railways) 2015-16 | Transcript

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Full transcript:

Sir, Rail humara jivan me gati lati hai. Yehi hai vigyan ka ek sresht ashwirvad. Bhartiye rail par humara garv hai.

Sir, two Hon’ble Members of my party already spoke on Railway Budget and covered all the points.

Sir, my constituency is Joynagar which is mainly a coastal based area. Sunderbans which is a famous mangrove forest and Royal Bengal Tiger habitat, is also situated under my constituency. I would like to state here two projects which are under my constituency and have become an urgent necessity.

Sir, Canning to Bhangankhali, it is the project of the then Hon’ble Railway Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee which is still pending. I would like to request the Hon’ble Minister, through you Sir, to start the project and would also like to request to kindly extend the project of Bhagankhali to Gadkhali.

People from Sunderbans come to Kolkata for their daily need. I would also like to inform the Hon’ble Minister, through you Sir, that train journey from Sealdah to Namkhana takes three hours. Sir, I would like to request the Hon’ble Minister to introduce one or two galloping train so that people reach their destination within a shorter time.

At the same time, I would also like to request the Hon’ble Minister, through you Sir, to extend this line from Namkhana to Bakkhali. Bakkhali is an attractive tourist stop, so that people from different parts of West Bengal can reach there easily. I would like to finally request the Hon’ble Minister to kindly sanction funds for these two projects.

Pratima Mandal speaks on the need to protect Sunderbans | Transcript

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The Sundarbans is the largest Mangrove forest ecosystem in the world. Annually 2.4 billion tonnes of sediments is transported by the major rivers of Bangladesh. Silt deposition in the northern part of the forest poses a threat to the existence and vigorous growth of mangrove vegetation. Salinity levels have increased in the Sundarbans since the Hathabhanga, Kobadak and other rivers bringing fresh water from the Ganges to the South have silted up excessively thereby losing their connection with the Ganges. The Sunderbans is on the verge of disintegrating and disappearing. I would urge the Minister concerned to take remedial steps to protect the Sundarbans and especially preserve the mangroves.