The Hindu Business Line : Damodar Valley Tourism woos private players

Kolkata, June 19 Damodar Valley Tourism Development Pvt Ltd — a 50:50 joint venture between DVC and IL&FS — plans to create Rs 400 crore worth of tourism facilities at Panchet and Maithon DVC river project sites in Jharkhand through public- private partnership.

Based on a master plan prepared by Mott MacDonald, the joint venture has already invited expressions of interest from private parties to build a range of facilities for adventure sports, amusement parks and lodging on approximately 172 acres of DVC land at the two locations. According to DVC officials, the initial estimates suggest that the projects would require Rs 200 crore each, including the cost of land.

Interestingly, the DVC river projects, mostly located in the hilly regions of Jharkhand, attracted tourists for their scenic beauty. However, in the absence of any organised effort and infrastructure, the potential could never be optimised. Since the land is under the control of DVC there is hardly any tourism infrastructure near the project sites.

To tap the potential and pave way for economic development of the region, DVC recently formed the joint venture. It appointed Mott MacDonald for preparing the master plans for development of Maithon, Panchet, Hazaribagh, Tilya, Rajarappa and Konar in Jharkhand through the public-private route.

The consultant has already submitted the master plans for Maithon and Panchet, while the others are under preparation.

“Approximately, 10 parties have so far responded to our tender. Once the tender is closed we will be able to work out the technical feasibility of the proposed projects and the monetary involvement in the same,” the DVC Chairman, Mr Asim Burman, told newspersons.

According him, DVC will contribute by offering the necessary land to create the infrastructure. The equity structure of the projects is yet to be finalised.

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