TOY TRAIN, DEER PARK

Toy train, deer park at Kholta

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 4: In presence of a large curious crowd the state forest minister Mr Ananta Roy flagged off the inaugural journey of a toy train at Kholta in Cooch Behar today. He also inaugurated a deer park there. A children park already came up at the site.

 

After the inauguration the minister told the media persons that dredging of the adjacent Arhaikumari river has been done where boating facility will be added for tourists and visitors. Cottages will be built and sitting arrangements will be made for the visitors to spend some time at the lap of the nature. The total project area is 51-bigha and some more land will be purchased to make the projects full fledged ones. Talking about the viability of the projects Mr Roy said they earned Rs 13,000 on a day (Saraswati Puja) from the children's park.

 

The deer park where seven deer were set free today came up with a cost of Rs 25-lakh and the toy train project took Rs 75-lakh so far, Mr Roy said. The noise of the diesel-run toy train will not disturb the deer in the adjacent park, the minister believes. Today, it was found that there was lack of green grass and bush in the deer park. The dusty open area is under the shadows of large teak and other trees. When pointed out, the minister assured that fodder would be arranged for the captive seven deer.

 

Replying a question the forest minister admitted that required approval from finance department was yet to be attained. After submitting of reports it will not be difficult to get the approval, Mr Roy said.

 

PHOTO : Prior to the inauguration craze for photographing in front of the Toy Train. At Kholta in Cooch Behar on Wednesday. – DB.