Eco-Tourism Development Plans Reviewed in Patna: Bihar Targets Expansion of Parks and Tourism

Patna: A review meeting on eco-tourism, park expansion, and maintenance was held at Sanjay Auditorium, Aranya Bhawan, Patna, under the chairmanship of Dr. Prem Kumar, Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bihar. Senior officials, including the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and representatives from the department, participated in the meeting.

To boost eco-tourism, a dedicated eco-tourism cell has been established in Vinayag. Several development projects were approved under the Eco-Tourism and Park Development Scheme, including Rs. 1489.33 lakh for the development of Bhalunidham Eco-Park in Rohtas Forest Division, with Rs. 595.73 lakh allocated for the current financial year. Similarly, Rs. 990.23 lakh was approved for the development of Anicut Park, Dehri, under the same division.

In Gaya Forest Division, Rs. 2181.62 lakh was sanctioned for Siloja Park, with Rs. 811.19 lakh allocated for the 2024-25 financial year. Kandi Nawada Biodiversity Park received an administrative approval of Rs. 1979.77 lakh, with Rs. 1123.2 lakh set aside for this year. Additionally, Sanjeevani Vatika Park Budhaul in Nawada Forest Division was approved for Rs. 681.98 lakh, with Rs. 206.24 lakh allocated. Khuri Biodiversity Park in the same division received a budget of Rs. 968.44 lakh, with Rs. 285.24 lakh for 2024-25.

Patna alone has 142 parks, of which 109 have been developed, providing recreation spaces for the public. Work on the remaining 33 parks is ongoing. The Minister emphasized that turning Bihar into an eco-tourism hub would increase tourist inflow and generate employment for locals.

The Minister also suggested the involvement of external agencies to further promote eco-tourism in the state. Efforts to improve park facilities and establish biodiversity hubs were identified as key steps toward achieving these goals.