Chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee during her official administrative meeting in Purulia yesterday directed the district administration to focus on homestays, cottages and eco-tourism projects to boost the tourism in the district.

Seeking more participation and investments from the private sector, the chief minister said that the district civil administration and the tourism department should work together to rope in more private sector investments in tourism infrastructure development projects like setting up of new hotels, resorts and cottages, homestays and eco tourism projects.

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She said that the mega Jungle Sundari Industrial Township Project will be the biggest ever investment in the Purulia district and will provide employment opportunities to several thousands in the coming years.

But Purulia, popularly called as Rupasi Bangla, has a scenic beauty with its blooming red palash flowers. “We need to further attract the tourists by setting up new facilities in the tourism hotspots in this district which has many things to offer – from hills to jungles to ancient and heritage temples, dams etc,” she said.

She has already urged the Purulia Chamber of Commerce to plan a Film City in Purulia like the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad so that the state government can also boost film tourism in the district.

Several Bollywood and Tollywood films have already been shot in different locations in Purulia district in the past, including the famous ‘Hirak Rajar Deshe’ by Satyajit Ray in Jai Chandi Hills.

The Purulia district administration has been planning to set up adventure sports in the tourism hotspots like the Ayodhya Hills, Jai Chandi Hills, GarPanchkot, Murguma etc.

Shikaras has also been introduced in the famous Sahen Bandh, a national lake in Purulia by the civic body to boost the tourism sector.

Even in the latest data released by the centre by the Union forest and environment ministry, Purulia has recorded the largest growth in forest cover in West Bengal.

“With new facilities like homestays, hotels, cottages and eco-tourism projects the local youth will get more job opportunities and will boost the rural economy,” the CM added.