The West Bengal forest department has opened discussions on expanding Dooars tourism around Gorumara National Park, Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, Murti and Lataguri while keeping forest protection and wildlife conservation at the centre of future development. The meeting, held at a private resort in Chalsa in Jalpaiguri district on Saturday, brought together state ministers, tourism stakeholders, environmentalists and senior administrative and forest officials.
Forest minister Manoj Kumar Oraon and tourism minister Shankar Ghosh attended the meeting, which focused on ways to improve the region’s tourism industry and address challenges faced by operators and other stakeholders. The government said proposals raised during the discussion would be examined at the state level before any necessary steps are taken.
“The state government wants to promote tourism in harmony with forests, nature and the environment,” Oraon said after the meeting. He added that discussions with tourism stakeholders and environmentalists were intended to gather views and suggestions for future action.
The meeting covered tourism around Gorumara National Park and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as Murti, Lataguri and adjoining areas. These destinations, particularly in the western Dooars, attract a large number of visitors every year and have become important parts of the region’s tourism economy.
The rise in tourist footfall has increased the need for better infrastructure and services in the area. A senior forest department official said upgrading facilities would have to be accompanied by measures to protect the region’s fragile ecological balance. The official did not provide details of specific projects, funding commitments or timelines during the meeting.
Tourism industry representatives placed several proposals before the government and outlined operational difficulties affecting the sector. The supplied account does not specify the individual proposals or identify the stakeholders who made them. Their concerns were discussed alongside the government’s stated objective of developing the Dooars as a major tourist destination.
Environmentalists participating in the meeting stressed that development initiatives must not disturb forest ecosystems or the natural habitats of wildlife. Their position places the proposed tourism expansion within an existing regulatory framework rather than treating visitor growth and conservation as separate objectives.
Ghosh said the government was seeking suggestions from all stakeholders on how to further develop the Dooars. “The problems faced by tour operators and other stakeholders were also discussed,” he said, adding that tourism development would be pursued in accordance with existing laws while maintaining ecological and environmental balance.
No final project approvals, construction schedules or changes to forest access rules were announced at the meeting. The immediate next step is a government-level examination of the proposals raised by tourism representatives and other participants. Further decisions will depend on that review and on compliance with applicable laws governing forests, wildlife and the environment.
