RANCHI | Sept 13, 2016: The iron ore mines of Kiriburu and Meghatuburu in East Singhbhum district are likely to be thrown open to tourists for the first time in early 2017.

The directorate of state tourism department has drawn up a list of sites across the state for implementing its proposed mining, adventure, rural and eco-tourism projects in the state.

According to a primary report submitted to state tourism, sports, art and culture minister Amar Kumar Bauri early this month, the two mines owned by Steel Authority of India limited (SAIL) have been selected for the first phase of mining tourism. Lohardaga, Pakur, Bokaro and Ramgarh will also be developed later.

The report, which was handed over to the minister by the project management unit hired by it in early 2016, says the Kharkai river in East Singbhum has been chosen for rafting activities. Ranchi's Hundru Falls has been selected for initiating rope-based adventure activities like flying fox. The state's prominent reservoirs like Dimna (Jamshedpur) and Maithon (Dhanbad) will be turned into water-sport activity centers.

Amadubi in Jamshedpur and Belwara in Hazaribag have been selected for rural tourism. The Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandil Dam, Tilaiya Dam (Koderma), Getalsud Dam (Ranchi) and Lapung have been shortlisted for promoting eco-tourism.

In a bid to attract more visitors, the department has planned to install wi-fi hotspots in major tourist sites across the state. A tender is expected to be floated next month.

Rajiv Ranjan, joint director of the state tourism directorate, said, "A final approval is still pending from the minister. However, work on equipping prominent tourist sites with wi-fi connectivity is expected to start soon."

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)