Monday, September 24, 2012

Indo-Canada joint venture to offer adventure trips

Indo-Canada joint venture to offer adventure trips

Chitra Unnithan, TNN Sep 22, 2012, 04.51AM IST


AHMEDABAD: Tourists bored of the usual activities can now gear up for an adventurous feel of mining activities. An Ahmedabad-based organisation has collaborated with a Canadian company for development of mines and minerals tourism across the country.

While all eyes are on Coalgate, Cluster Pulse, an economic development agency has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CES Clients, a Canadian tourism and community development firm to develop mining pits as tourist attraction spots. The organizations will create recreation activities around closed and functioning mines to give tourists a feel of the mine, its history and also an overview of the life of workers at the mine. The organizations have also developed a technology which will give people the experience of a mine blast.

"The technology will create a mining scenario, where a person can be stimulated to actually experience the vibration and the sound of the blast along with the temperature during mining," said Jagat Shah, founder cum mentor of Cluster Pulse.

The team has been roped in by the Goa government for its pilot project. The draft mining policy announced by Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar in August had proposed that tourism be developed in mines that have shut down after excavation of minerals. The policy states that "mineral-related tourism would be promoted with a view to create awareness, educate the masses and provide employment opportunities to the local people".

"Around the mines, we plan to create recreation activities and engage the community in discussion. The community is the true owner of the ecosystem and the project will also generate employment around the area," said Shah.

The team also plans to approach the Gujarat government after it completes the Goa project. "The Gujarat government is actively promoting tourism and there are several mines in the state which can be developed into tourist spots, including the ones that are functioning," said Shah.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-22/ahmedabad/34021060_1_mine-blast-goa-chief-minister-manohar-parrikar

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