Infrastructural, communication fillip to 4 tourist spots in Basirhat for safer visits

Kolkata: The state government has decided to create a tourist hub by developing the infrastructure and communication involving four tourist spots under Basirhat constituency in North 24-Parganas. This was decided at a high-level meeting at Nabanna on Tuesday which was chaired by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. It was held with an aim to boost safety and security in and around Kachua Loknath Temple near Basirhat where five persons were killed and about 20 injured in a stampede-like situation in the wee hours on August 23.

"Several decisions have been taken in the meeting. The Tourism department will develop a tourist circuit connecting Kachua and Chakla temples, Chandraketugarh and Dhanyakuria Rajbari. The Public Works Department will do the necessary work for road widening as part of strengthening communication. There will be bus services from Chakla to Howrah via Kachua and vice versa and they will pass Sealdah on way," said Jyotipriya Mallick, the state Food and Supplies minister who is also the district president of the Trinamool Congress in North 24-Parganas.

A 10-member committee has been constituted with trustee members from Kachua and Chakla temple and police Superintendents of North 24-Parganas and Basirhat police district that will work in coordination with the District Magistrate. "There will be ring system in Kachua temple similar to the pattern followed in Tarapith, Kalighat and other temples to regulate the movement of devotees. A buffer zone will be created where the devotees can have 'prasad'," a senior official present in the meeting added. The gates of both Kachua and Chakla temple will be widened and the lighting facilities will also get a facelift.

"There is a house located on a 10 cottah land just beside the Kachua temple that has been lying under lock and key for several years. Our government will take over the house and develop facilities like toilets, refreshments and the like for devotees. The temple committee has been asked to take up renovation of the temple," the official added.

The state government will take over the waterbody beside the shrine on lease and will put galvanized iron bars on its bank to prevent any sort of untoward incident. On the fateful day, some people fell in the waterbody and sustained injuries.

The Chief Minister had announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh for those seriously injured and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries in the incident.