DVC may enter tourism, fisheries to generate addition resource

Kolkata, Jun 18 (UNI) Damodar Valley Corporation(DVC) is scouting for opportunities in tourism and fisheries sectors to generate addition resources.

In order to develop its reservoir sites in Maithon, Tilaiya, Panchet and Konar and convert these loactions into tourism spots, the company entered into a joint venture agreement with the Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) last month.

DVC and IL&FS would have equal shareholding in the venture, known as "DVC Tourism Development Corporation".

'' The new company has an initial equity capital of Rs five crore, '' DVC CEO Asim Burman told UNI.

An expert committee would be formed to examine ways in which tourism could be developed at these sites and the infrastructure requirements.

'' A tourism consultant firm may be hired to prepare the plan.

Once the plan is ready, expressions of interest will be invited to develop the projects, '' he said.

Maithon would be the first site to be developed into a tourism spot and the project will be completed this fiscal. Panchet, Tilaiya and Konar reservoir sites will be developed after that.

DVC was also planning to start fish farming at its reservoirs.

The Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute at Barrackpore had already prepared a scheme for this venture. '' We are working in collaboration with the Fisheries department of the Jharkhand government at Konar and Tilaiya dams, '' he said.

UNI