Kenapara- Fascinating Coal MineTourism Destination of Chhattisgarh

The State of Chhattisgarh needs no introduction for its spectacular landscape, enchanting waterfalls, caves and heritage temples. Nature at its best, Chattisgarh is equally blessed with abundant natural resources, especially coal. 

Kenapara- Fascinating Coal MineTourism Destination of Chhattisgarh
Kenapara- Fascinating Coal MineTourism Destination of Chhattisgarh

NEW DELHI- The State of Chhattisgarh needs no introduction for its spectacular landscape, enchanting waterfalls, caves and heritage temples. Nature at its best, Chattisgarh is equally blessed with abundant natural resources, especially coal. 

Thanks to the efforts of South Eastern Coalfields Ltd(SECL) and Chhattisgarh government, an abandoned coal mine of the State is at present the center of attraction as an emerging eco-tourism destination and reliable source of livelihood for the poor, mainly the tribal people of Bishrampur Open Cast Mine area. 


Spread over an area of 1472 hectares, the 10 numbers of quarries of Bishrampur mines have contributed more than 387 lakh ton coal during 57 years of their operation from the year 1961, thereby further enriching the legacy of Chhattisgarh as one of the major contributing Statesto the energy security of the Nation.  


The mined out Quarry No. 6of Bishrampurwas selected for developing it into an eco-tourism destination due to its unique geo-physical conditions and the easy connectivity to National Highway-43. Abandoned for more than three decades, Quarry No.6 led to the formation of a fascinating water body, covering an area of over 10.57 hectareswith 1.75 km long stretch and an average depth of around 39 feet.


Realizing the potential of this ecosystem to further promote tourism and livelihood, the Fisheries Department of Chhattisgarh developed the site for pisciculture and boating. 

A sum of Rs1.97 crore was sanctioned by South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) and handed over to the State authority to develop the site during 2018-19. Starting in December 2018, the project got completed within a short span of eight months.

The beautiful and clean waterbody with ad joining greenery has immense possibility to provide livelihoods as an additional source of income for in habitants of neighbouring villages of Jainagar, Kenapara, Kunjnagar and Bishrampur. 

In the first phase,  pisciculture, boating facility and a floatingrestaurant etc. arepaving the way for asustainable livelihoods to the local people especially the less-privileged. The attractive floating restaurant constructed with the funds of mine closure plan of Southeastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL)is one of the major highlights of this novel Eco-tourism project.

A co-operative society of local villagers named Mahamaya Fisheries Society for pisciculture and the women organisation Shiv Shakti Mahila Gram Sanghathan to manage the boating facility have been formed and the members have been imparted training in capacity building and skill upgradation. The women self-help group(SHGs)from186 poor house holds have been chosen for boating. 

More than hundred tourists visit this destination daily and the number keep increasing.

Poor tribal households productively engagedwith fisheries are benefited with a good source ofincome. At present 32 cages are being used for pisciculture.

Each cage with battery and protection net often fetchesclose to twotonfish.In order to woo more tourists to coal mine tourism, service by two motor boats, floating raft, farmer cottage, sitting room andstore room are  the other amenities made available.
The future plan is to develop the site as an Eco-ethnic tourism hub which wil linclude land scaping, promotion of latest water sports, cottages for stay and a culturalcentre to further step up entertainment for visitors.
As we know open-cut mining heavily affects landscapes and is largely irreversible. Post mining land scapes often differ dramatically from pre-mining ones.

Damages to coal-mined land must be restored through reclamation efforts to provide optimum benefits.      

In addition to environmental improvements through conservation and protection, coal mined and so has the potential for economic development and can provide social benefits to the community.

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