Jharkhand forest deptt plans ropeway in Dalma Hills

In an attempt to tap the potential for growth of eco-tourism in the Kolhan region of Jharkhand, the state Forest Department has initiated steps to promote it and has plans to build a ropeway in Dalma here.
Talking to reporters after the Van Mahotsav-2014 function organised jointly by the Forest and Environment Department and Tata Steel here today, Regional Chief Conservator of Forest K K Chatterjee and Conservator of Forest (Territorial), Satyajit Singh said the department was in the process of setting up a ropeway in Dalma, considered an eco-tourism destination in the state.
"We are confident that the ropeway project will be operational soon," they said adding, the forest department has also developed a guest house in Pindrabeda, a resort at Matlakocha and a theme park at Gurabandha to woo the tourists.

We have a proposal to set up theme parks in Adityapur and near Pardih here, the officials said.
Chatterjee said, the Kolhan region comprised of East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan districts, has plenty of scope for tourism and the forest department would promote eco-tourism.
Some forest guest houses, which were built decades ago in Saranda forest and were destroyed by Maoist ultras have been renovated, Chatterjee said admitting that one of the oldest guest houses in Thalkobad could not be renovated for security reasons.

He said guest houses in Manoharpur, Goilkera, Sonua, Kiriburu (all in West Singhbhum) have been renovated by the department.

Singh said the forest cover of Jharkhand, which was about 30 per cent against the national target of 33 per cent, has added up 496 sq kms, besides plantations and Tree Outside Forest (TOF).
The forest as well as green cover of Jharkhand have increased because of the plantation program undertaken by the forest department, Singh said adding Jharkhand stood 5th in the national ranking as far as forest cover was concerned.