West Bengal : Tourism & Hospitality Industry - news, photos and videos

WB Tourism invites proposals for mega tourism park

JOY ROY CHOUDHURY - Kolkata

In tune with chief minister Mamata Banerjee's vision to turnaround Dooars in North Bengal into an international-class destination, the Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal has issued an 'Expression of Interest' inviting proposals from private partners to develop a mega tourism park at Gajoldoba. The project is visualised as a Mega Tourism Hub and proposed to be implemented on a public-private-partnership (PPP) mode.

Gajoldoba situated 25 kms from Siliguri is a picturesque tourist destination on Teesta Barrage, Jalpaiguri district adjacent to the Baikunthapur Forest. The project site is well connected with all other parts of the country. Tourism in Dooars is assuming importance because of its untapped potential to create employment for the tourism sector along with infrastructure development. IL&FS Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (IL&FS IDC), has been roped in as the consultant for the project. According to a senior IL&FS IDC official the project will include lake resorts, three-star category hotels, budget hotels, ayurvedic spa village, camping area, golf course, theme garden, cultural zone, hospitality training centre, picnic area / food court, children park and old age home. The scope of the bidder will include design, build, finance and operation of the project components for a pre-defined period of time.

http://www.expresstravelworld.com/i...urism-invites-proposals-for-mega-tourism-park

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Mamata sets up state zoo authority
Ajanta Chakraborty, TNN | May 23, 2012, 09.47PM IST

KOLKATA: The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to refurbish all zoos in the state and bring them under one umbrella - the state zoo authority. Chief secretary Samar Ghosh is the chairman - he has asked all zoos to submit masterplans so that renovation can be started soon. Under the apex body, uniform rules and guidelines have been formulated for all state zoos.

Forest secretary Subesh Das told TOI, "By bringing the zoo under the state zoo authority, there will be smooth functioning in the zoological gardens." The government has also set up a technical committee under the authority. The committee, headed by the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) has been empowered to decide on the medical treatment requirement of the zoo inmates, their diet and if and when an animal needs to be brought to the zoo from outside.

As of now, the Alipore Zoological Gardens, the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in Darjeeling, Khayerbari zoo, Kunjanagar zoo, Cooch Behar zoo, Adina Deer Park, Burdwan zoo, Jharkhali zoo, Rasik Beel, Purulia zoo and Garchumuli zoo will be brought under the authority.

The government has decided to upgrade these zoos in the first phase and has sent a project plan to the Union ministry of environment and forests.

Das said, "We have prepared certain guidelines and rules under the authority - these rules will streamline the functioning of the zoos. Until now, the zoos functioned in the most amateurish manner. The formulation of the new rules will bring about uniformity in the structure of the zoological gardens."

The rules, for instance, talk about the same person being employed to feed animals like tigers and lions so as to strike a bonding with the animals. The diet of each and every species will be prepared centrally and will have to be followed strictly.

The state zoo authority held its first workshop at Alipore zoo on 14 and 15 May. The proposal for the advisory and regulatory body was first mooted in 2009 by the erstwhile Left Front government soon after the common mermosets indigenous to the tropical forests of Brazil were stolen from their enclosures at Alipore zoo gardens in August that year.

But the proposal never really took off. "The state zoo authority will guide, supervise and monitor the zoos in the state and from now on, managing committees of the zoos will cease to exist," said Das.

The state government intends bringing private zoos under this body eventually. The forest department will keep a close watch on whether there are violations of the guidelines laid down by the state zoo authority, which will function somewhat like the central zoo authority.

Of course the central zoo authority will continue to be the legal authority and decide on the policy violations of all zoos in the state. The day-to-day operations will be looked into by the zoo director on behalf of the state zoo authority.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-state-zoo-authority/articleshow/13413876.cms

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