PATNA: The state government has asked the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation to develop the area around the world famous Buddhist stupa at Kesariya in East Champaran district.
Replying to a question of JD-U’s Satish Kumar, tourism minister Sunil K Pintu said in the legislative council that Rs 1.38 crore has been sanctioned for construction of toilets, a boundary wall and a ticket counter at the protected site at which a cafeteria and a tourist information centre would also come up. The minister admitted the site, visited by a large number of tourists from Asian countries every year, does not have basic facilities for them.
Replying to another question, the minister said Rs 1.67 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of a tourist complex at Someshwar Nath temple at Areraj in East Champran. He said the state government has decided to develop Areraj-Rampurva sites on its own as the Centre has been sitting on a state proposal to develop the sites at a cost of Rs 2.68 crore, since 2009.