New Delhi, Sept. 22 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday announced plans to develop Alipurduar as an international tourism destination, citing the region's immense potential.

Addressing a press conference at Madarihat, Adhikari announced that an MoU would be signed with Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on September 28 for construction of a civil airport at Hasimara, which is expected to boost travel and tourism in the Dooars.

After visiting Jaldapara National Park, Adhikari said he was pleased with the wildlife conservation work there and directed authorities to complete reconstruction of the burnt Hollong Forest Bungalow by March 2027.

He arrived at Cooch Behar Airport by helicopter and offered prayers at the historic Madan Mohan Temple. He later said the district administration had prepared a budget of around Rs 2 crore for its development.

On Cooch Behar Airport, Adhikari said he would meet Naidu on September 28 to discuss its development and infrastructure. "I want to develop Cooch Behar. Give me a year. Cooch Behar will witness all-round development," he said.

He chaired an administrative meeting at Rabindra Bhavan, where law and order, the border situation, infrastructure and development issues were discussed. He directed the police to be more active and stressed the need to provide land to the BSF for border security.

"Land must also be provided to the BSF to secure the borders," he said.

In Jalpaiguri, Adhikari inaugurated the Murti Bridge and announced Rs 330 crore for various development projects, including initiatives linked to the tea industry. He also said efforts were underway to reopen closed tea gardens.Adhikari said he would return to Alipurduar to inaugurate the new district court building and visit Buxa on October 2 for the release of a tiger.

Meanwhile, on World Rhino Day, around 142 kg of seized rhino horns and other wildlife body parts were destroyed at a Forest Department programme at the Subhashini Tea Garden ground in Kalchini. Elephant tusks, deer antlers, leopard skins and other wildlife parts were also destroyed in the presence of school students.

"Wildlife must be protected from poachers. Wildlife body parts seized in connection with poaching will be destroyed through incineration," Adhikari said.He later undertook a jeep safari at Jaldapara National Park and named two elephant calves 'Chaitanya' and 'Sulakshana'. Three rhinos, including a calf, along with bison and deer were sighted at the Hollong glade. Rain, however, forced him to cut short the safari.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.