J'khand govt launches country's maiden mining tourism initiative inks pact with Coal India arm

    Ranchi, Jul 21 (PTI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday said his government has launched the country's maiden mining tourism initiative and inked a pact with Coal India arm CCL.
    The move comes after Soren recently visited the Gava Museum of Mines in Barcelona to see ancient mining techniques and relics from the Neolithic era.
    Jharkhand is endowed with rich mineral resources and is home to about 40 per cent of the country's total minerals.
    Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) for the mining tourism initiative, the chief minister said.
    The project aims to transform Jharkhand's rich mining heritage into a captivating tourism experience, an official said.
    The MoU was signed in the presence of state tourism minister Sudivya Kumar.
    "Jharkhand has been known as a mining state. We have taken the first step towards mining tourism in the state with CCL. Now, the mining sector is open for tourists, common men and educational groups," Kumar said.
    He said the government would also work to develop another circuit in mining tourism with Bharat Coking Coal Limited.
    CCL chairman-cum-managing director Nilendu Kumar Singh said they express their gratitude towards the state government for giving an opportunity to the miner for the project.
    "After three rounds of meetings with the minister and his team, the MoU was inked today. We will open more mines in future for the mining tourism circuit," he added.
    Jharkhand tourism development corporation (JTDC) managing director Prem Ranjan said the initiative is being started with North Urimari (Birsa) open-cast coal mine in Ramgarh district as a pilot project.
    "Depending on the response and feedback, it will be expanded to other sites in due course," he said.
    Initially, the tour services will run twice a week, with group sizes of 10 to 20 people per tour.
    Ranjan said two routes have been planned to reach the site: the Rajrappa route and the Patratu route.
    The Rajrappa route will cost Rs 2,800 plus GST per person, while the Patratu route will cost Rs 2,500 plus GST per person.
    "If anyone chooses the Rajrappa route, he will have additional attraction of visiting Chinnamastika temple and Patratu valley. In the Patratu package, tourists will be taken to Prayatan Vihar and then they proceed towards North Urimari. The tourists will also be provided lunch during the tour," Ranjan told PTI.
    Over the estimated revenue target from mining tourism, Ranjan said, "The project is just beginning. So, we have not made any estimation over economic point of view. We can say anything over the revenue aspect after the feedback from the pilot project."
    He, however, said they expect that the mining tourism would prove to be a great success in days to come, as it has great potential to draw tourists.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)