Tourists from Around the World Come to See Bastar’s Forests: Kedar Kashyap

Raipur, August 22

Forest Minister Mr. Kedar Kashyap congratulated the Bastar Eco Tourist Committee groups and said that the forests of the Bastar region form a huge base for tourism, attracting visitors from around the world to see Bastar’s forests and natural beauty. Minister Kashyap expressed these views while addressing the ‘Connect Bastar’ program organized by the Forest Department and Kanger Valley National Park at the auditorium of Shaheed Gundadhur Agriculture College, Jagdalpur.

Notably, under the theme ‘Connect Bastar’, the Forest Department and Kanger Valley National Park have created a tourism circuit linking Tatamari in Kondagaon district to Chitrakot, Narayanpal Temple, Teerathgarh, Kanger Valley National Park in Bastar district, and Danteshwari Temple and Barsoor temples in Dantewada district. To facilitate tourists, ten vehicles have been arranged for this circuit.

During the program, MLA Mr. Kiran Dev said that since the formation of their government, Chief Minister Mr. Sai and Forest Minister Mr. Kedar Kashyap have accelerated the development of tourism in forested areas like Bastar. Bastar’s culture and tourism have now gained a distinct identity nationally and internationally. The Dhurmaras tourism site in Bastar is now receiving recognition from organizations like UNESCO. There is a need to connect Bastar as a tourism corridor. The inauguration of ten vehicles for tourism by Kanger Valley National Park is a good initiative. Additionally, development projects worth approximately Rs. 1.7 crore were laid during the program.

On this occasion, Minister Mr. Kashyap unveiled the theme of ‘Connect Bastar’. He also distributed checks to beneficiaries of various Forest Department schemes. Furthermore, foundation stones were laid for development projects including government housing construction costing Rs. 59.92 lakh, beautification of Nakshatra Vatika for Rs. 72.48 lakh, and construction of five Sarai sheds costing Rs. 38.13 lakh. Minister Kashyap flagged off ten vehicles to facilitate tourists. Mayor Mr. Sanjay Pandey, other public representatives, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Mr. Stylo Mandavi, DFO Mr. Uttam Gupta, Director of Kanger Valley National Park Mr. Naveen Kumar, along with dignitaries and officials, were present on the occasion.