`Develop Keshopur Chhamb sanctuary as tourist destination`

Gurdaspur: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Wednesday asked the forest department to expedite the work for developing Keshopur Chhamb Bird Sanctuary as a tourist destination.

The CM accompanied by senior officers of the state government visited the site of this 850 acres wetland to review an ongoing infrastructure development project here. During an interaction with the officers, the CM asked them to speed up the process of completing this project so that the prospects of tourism could be boosted in this border district, which would also generate new opportunities of employment for the residents of nearby villages. Badal assured that the state government would take every possible step to develop this site as an ideal tourist destination, saying it has a lot of untapped potential to attract people especially bird lovers from across the globe. He also asked the officers to ensure development of proper infrastructure for comfortable stay of tourists. The state government has already allocated Rs three crore in the first phase for the development of the project, the Chief Minister said, adding that a total sum of Rs nine crore would be spent on the entire project. He also said that the services of experts from across the globe must be roped in for developing the place as an ideal tourist spot.