Gangasagar Improvement

A large number of agencies are working for the improvement of Gangasagar. I went to Gangasagar last Thursday with DM P B Selim, JS Sumita Bagchi, CTP Saibal Thaukurtha, Director of Tourism Umapada Bhattacharya, Chairman GBDA Bankim Hazra MLA, MP C M Jatua, PHE / Irrigation / KMDA/ SDO/ Panchayat etc. to have a co-ordination meeting. We chalked out a strategy for developing Gangasagar Bakkhali Development Authority. I advised GBDA to develop its Tourist Lodge as an improved hotel with professional services. I advised to replicate the deluxe wooden cottage into five more units. I wanted planners to make a existing land use register. I also asked Chief Engineer KMDA to present the Rs 300 cr plan prepared for submision to NGRBA for Sagar.

I was pleased to see that the sites identified during Hon'ble CM's visit to Gangasagar last year October had been properly fenced off (see pic below). Now Tourism Department has just brought out a Detailed Project Report (though I didn't get to see it)

Facing sea, to the left. Site for eco tourism

 We also toyed with the idea of introducing an eco-tour on the sea link Bakkhali-Jambudwip. Since Jambudwip is an isolated Forest Island, we have to take permission from Forest Department even for nature trials. On my return, I wrote yesterday to the Forest Department to take this up with the new Eco Tourism Board, the first meeting of which is scheduled to be held on 8 July 2015:

Proposed Jambudweep-Bakkhali  Nature Trail

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Ground breaking of Ceremony Ground just outside Rabi Aranya in Eco Park took place yesterday. A photo:

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Here are a few clippings:

Telegraph dt 4 July 2015

Ei Samay dt 4 July 2015

Sanmarg dt 4 July 2015