Govt to invest around Rs 600 cr on religious tourism: CM

Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Monday said that developing the State as a religious tourism destination was his government’s top priority. He informed that the Government is investing around Rs 600-crore in developing religious tourism circuit developing sites at Rajrappa, Ithkori, Deoghar, Basukinath, Parasnath, Anjanidham, and Maluti. The step will attract large number of domestic and overseas tourists to the state and the revenue from these tourists will help in economic growth of the state. This will further help the government objective of making a developed State by 2022.

Das noted that development of tourism sector would lead to economic development of the state, besides generating employment opportunities.

The Chief Minister was addressing media after performing ‘Jalabhishek’ (offering holy water) to Lord Shiva at Surya Mandir at Sidgora on the third Monday of the auspicious month of 'Shravan.

Das also expressed condolence at the demise of former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee who passed away today at Kolkata. The chief minister also assured of government efforts at improving healthcare facilities at MGM Hospital.

Appreciating the media for giving exposure to 'Shravani Mela', he said it has become an international event and it will further help boost the tourism potential of the state. He also appreciated the contribution of women in the overall development of the state.

For the fourth year in succession, Chief Minister Raghubar Das, took part in kalash yatra organised by Surya Mandir committee and walked for nearly 4 km (from Hari Mandir premises in Baridih to Shivalaya at Surya Mandir, Sidhgora)  in nearly an hour to perform jal abhishek on the third Somvari of the holy Shravan month.

Das, clad in saffron t-shirt and white trousers, started the kalash yatra carrying holy water from Subernarekha river along Baridih chhath ghat along with his son, Lalit Kumar Das, at around 8 am and offered holy water on the Shivalaya at around 9.10 am. Around 10,000 devotees, mostly women also joined in the kalash yatra on the occasion.

The Chief Minister said that his prayers to Lord Shiva was to give him power to eradicate poverty from the state and also sought blessing for all section of society.

 The Chief Minister again reached Sone Mandap adjacent to the Surya Mandir premises in Sidhgora at around 11.05 am to interact with devotees (kanwarias) at Deoghar through video conference. This was the third occasion when chief minister had interacted with kanwarias at Deoghar through video conference to know their problems. (the first two video conference were held at Ranchi).

 Most of the devotees from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and some from even Maharashtra expressed satisfaction at the government efforts in providing toilets, drinking water facility, rest houses, health camps