As a significant drive to encourage tourism and growth in its region, the Bihar government, headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has proposed to build eight dams within the state to serve as tourist spots. The project will make these water reservoirs beautiful places to engage in eco-tourism, recreation, and generate employment opportunities for the locals.
The announcement is a part of the overall policy by the government to diversify the tourism industry in Bihar, which has been dominated by religious and heritage tourism sites like Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Nalanda. This effort to focus on such natural attractions as dams and reservoirs will allow the authorities to promote domestic tourism and demonstrate the picturesque beauty of less popular areas of the state.
The authorities indicated that the chosen dams will be modernized with tourist-friendly facilities to enable them to be used by tourists. The suggested plans are the development of better roads, vantage points, boating and landscaping, walking and jogging paths and the simplest of facilities like cafeterias and car parks. It is also after considering alternative eco tourism models that the government is to ensure that the environment that surrounds the water bodies is sustainable.
It is also likely to continue to help the districts where these dams are built, as the dams will provide jobs in the hospitality, transport, guiding services, and local businesses. The move has been received well by residents and tourism stakeholders who claim it will inject some economic activity into regions that have always been marginal to the mainstream tourism circuits.
Although the government is yet to announce the final list of dams to be built, the government officials hinted that scenic dams in areas such as Rohtas, Kaimur, Jamui and Banka will feature. There are some of them, which are already visited on weekends and holidays, yet have poor infrastructure and lack organization of facilities.
Tourism observers think that the project would largely increase the popularity of Bihar as a nature and adventure tourism destination. They cite the fact that neighbouring states have managed to build dam-based tourism attraction sites where activities such as boating, camping, and eco-parks are done to earn revenue as well as create jobs. When done well, the project in Bihar can achieve the same success.
The announcement comes in the light of growing endeavours by the state government to enhance infrastructure and tourism as a source of economic growth. The authorities said that the final reports on the projects, allocation, and dates of completion will be received in the next few months and that development will be staged and will start very soon.
With its aim at drawing more tourists, the intention to turn eight dams into tourist destinations is a big move in an effort of diversifying its tourism activities. The project does not just intend to increase the number of visitors; it also intends to generate long-term growth prospects for the local communities.
Additional information about the implementation of the project and the sites could be revealed in the future official announcements of the tourism and water resources departments.
