Bihar govt to beautify all Buddhist sites in Champaran dists: Manjhi

MOTIHARI: CM Jitan Ram Manjhi while inaugurating the three-day 'Champaran Sanskritik Mahotsav' on Monday at a colorful function organized at the local Gandhi Maidan said as the Champaran region has many tourist destinations, the state government has planned to promote tourism industry as a vital part of economic activities in this flood and famine-prone area, which had been attracting foreign tourists since ancient times.
"The East and West Champaran districts located on Indo Nepal border in northwest Bihar is rich in tradition and hence we call it the land of Valmiki , Buddha and work place of Mahatma Gandhi. Our leader Nitish Kumar has a dream to develop tourism for socio-economic development of the state and that is why the government has taken a decision to beautify the sites of Buddha stupa at Kesariya, Ashokan pillar at Lauriya Nandangarh, Ashokan pillar at Rampurawa, Mahadeo temple at Areraj, Gandhi ghat at Turkauliya in East and West Champaran districts at an expenditure of Rs 16 crore," said Manjhi.
Work on these projects will start soon, he said. The government will develop the foot prints of Buddha circuit sites located in Champaran region as these historical monuments need care and better upkeep to attract foreign tourists, he said. The CM said Buddha stupa at Kesariya, which is the tallest stupa of the world, was not beautified after its excavation and there is no guest house, information centre or even drinking water facility there hence the government has decided to develop this site by providing better accommodation, light, information centre and other facilities for tourists at a cost of Rs 2.6 crore, while the Ashokan pillar site at Lauriya will be developed at a cost of Rs 4.2 crore.
He exhorted the youth to get good education and respect for the elders. Vinay Bihari, minister for art, culture and youth affairs said former CM Nitish Kumar and CM Jitan Ram manjhi will be remembered for development of the backward regions like Champaran. "We are getting our share in development for the first time," he said. Birendra Nath Pandey, former VC of Magadh University, presided over the function.