Speed Post News Network
Bagaha : Bihar Deputy CM and Environment & Forests Minister Shushil Kumar Modi on October 10, 2018, reached Valmikinagar in Bagaha police district and inaugurated a new route for tourists for entering forest areas and enjoy ‘Jungle Safari’ to see wildlife and picturesque spots located at various points in Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve (VTR). Modi four Jungle Safaris visited Triveni forest sector of Valmkinagar and Kosil sectors of Gonauli forest range. He also visited watch tower at Bhalu Thapa.
Earlier, Modi inspected work for safety of forest from Gandak erosion, which starts from head of old Triveni canal goes up to hanging bridge better known as ‘Kauleshwar Jhula’ on the left bank of river Gandak river. Talking to mediapersons at Valmikinagar, the Deputy chief Minister said that for increasing the flow of tourists in the VTR, better accommodation facilities have been provided with 46 well maintained beds ready in the forests and other amusement programmes like movies on wildlife besides tribal dance related to local culture during night.
Modi said that all facilities being provided to the tourists were based on eco-tourism. He was very happy to learn the increase in wildlife population specially Royal Bengal Tigers whose number has now increased to 47 including the cubs. Earlier, there were only 7 Royal Bengal Tigers. He said that t present there were four elephants here and their population will be increased by bringing more from Karnataka. For rehabilitation of Rhinocerous, a meeting was held at Patna recently, he said. Occasionally Rhino come here from Chitavan National Park and at present two Nepali Rhino are taking shelter here.
Modi admitted shortage staff at VTR and assured that new appointments will be made very shorty. He said that eight Jungle Safari including six private and two motorboats are available here for tourists. He said that accommodation fee for Bamboo huts and guest houses and rates travelling on Jungle Safar have now been brought down for increasing the numbers of tourists.
Modi was accompanied by Principal Secretary, Environment & Forest, Tripurari Sharan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief Wildlife Warden Bharat Jyoti, Director, Wildlife and Ecology Santosh Tiwary, Conservator of Forest cum Director VTR, Divisional Forest Officer (VTR) 2nd division of VTR Gaurav Ojha, West Champaran DM Nilesh Ramchandra Deore, Bagaha SP A K Gupta, Satish Chandra Dubey, MP from Valmikinagar, MLA from R S Pandey, Ramnagar MLA Bhagirathi Devi, and Valmikinagar MLA Dhirendra Pratap Singh alias Rinku Singh.