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
