Mr Budhdadeb Bhattacharjee’s dream
project on tea tourism may still have to wait for some time,
before it can take shape and who better to admit it, than
the state tourism minister, Mr Manab Mukherjee himself.
Admitting that the concept of tea tourism was still at its
“nascent stage,” Mr Mukherjee went on to state
that the concept would in all likelihood emerge as a major
phenomenon in the developmental history of north Bengal.
“There are many stumbling blocks in the way of promoting
tea-tourism, but if we remain determined, the obstacles would
melt away,” he said, but did not elaborate what the
obstacles were.
According to the minister, for tea tourism to succeed, a whole-hearted
co-operation from the tea plantation owners is a must. “There
are many instances where lands leased out to the tea plantation
for the purpose of tea are being used for other purposes.
In these cases the government is empowered by a recently passed
legislation to take over such land and hand it over to those
willing to promote plantation work,” he said.
The minister further said: “Along with the plantation
work, the owners should promote the cause of tea-tourism.
North Bengal as a whole is known worldwide as a region of
tea, apart from its proximity with the Himalayas and also
for its share of dense forests. All these can be clubbed together
to promote the prospects of tea-tourism. Wild life tourism,
adventure tourism and tea tourism can be blended together,”
he added
According to him, the proposals received for promotion of
tea tourism were overwhelming.
Courtesy: The Statesman |
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