By Sujeet Kumar
IANS
Raipur : Chhattisgarh is keen to transform itself into a tourist hub and plans to offer sops for those investing in the tourism sector in the state, including tax relief for land use and free power to set up hotels, said Tourism Minister Brijmohan Agrawal.
"The government will encourage investors to create world class infrastructures in and around dozens of hilly areas in Chhattisgarh's picturesque Bastar region and historical sites like the famed Budhhist centre Sirpur in Mahasamund district and Bhoramdeo temple in Kawardha district, known for its exotic paintings," Agrawal told IANS.
"We will provide concessions like tax relief, free power for 10 years and a waiver on land diversion taxes for investors to construct of resorts, heritage hotels, health resorts, multiplexes, roads and art and craft villages around tourist sites," Agrawal said.
He said tax concessions would be awarded under Chhattisgarh's Tourism Promotion Scheme unveiled earlier this week. Investors who have given applications for infrastructure development after April 1, 2006 will be entitled to receive government concessions under the scheme, which will be in force till April 1, 2016.
"The government will ensure easy land availability with free power for a period of 10 years besides a waiver on diversion tax for land upto 10 acres for tourism infrastructure creation," Agrawal stated.
Chhattisgarh, carved out in November 2000 from Madhya Pradesh, is home to ancient monuments, rare wildlife, exquisitely carved temples, palaces, waterfalls and rock paintings and most of these sites are still unexplored for their tourism potential.
One of the places known for its natural beauty is Chitrakote in the southern Bastar region where Indravati river falls abruptly 96-feet deep in a horse-shoe shape and is often compared to the Niagara Falls.
Bastar also boasts of numerous caves like Kailash caves and Kutumsar caves that are said to be 3,000-3,300 million years old.
Chhattisgarh government is now lobbying for Sirpur to be granted world heritage status. The village, over 70 km from here and located on the banks of Mahanadi river, was a famed Buddhist study centre during 6th-10th century.
According to Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang, who visited the village in the 7th century, Sirpur had an Ashoka stupa, at least 100 viharas (monasteries) and 150 temples.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is currently carrying out excavation work at Sirpur.