WB govt developing tourism in once Maoist dominated areas

West Bengal government is developing a large tourism circuit covering the districts of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore, which were once Maoist hotbeds, the Assembly was informed today.
The forested Jangalmahal area, spread over these three districts, was a few years back a Maoist hotbed before the Naxals were flushed out, Tourism Minister Bratya Basu said.
For Purulia, Rs 2.34 crore was sanctioned in 2012-13, while Rs 77.65 lakh was sanctioned in 2013-14.
For Bankura, the sanctioned amount was Rs 77 lakh in 2012-2013, while it was Rs 5.76 crore in 2013-14.
The amount sanctioned for West Midnapore for the tourism circuit was Rs 32.45 lakh in 2012-13 and stood at Rs 6.35 crore in 2013-14.

At least 12 such tourism circuits have been planned by the state government in different parts of West Bengal, the minister said.
He said eco-tourism projects have also been taken up in earnest by the Tourism department with projects at Gajoldoba in North Bengal and Sabujdeep in Hooghly district.