Alipurduar MLA Suman Kanjilal has taken the initiative to draw tourists to Jaldapara, a village located in the district on the fringes of the national park that bears the same name.

“The chief minister had told us in the Assembly that we should explore new areas where tourists can visit. Accordingly, I have found the Jaldapara village which has a certain uniqueness. I have spoken with administrative officials and want to develop the place as a model village for tourists,” said Kanjilal.

In 2021, Kanjilal was elected from the Alipurduar seat on a BJP ticket. However, he defected to Trinamool. He is also the chairman of the public accounts committee in the Assembly.

Kanjilal said that Jaldapara village, which is around 48 kilometres from the district headquarters, is in Salkumar panchayat under Alipurduar-I block.

Altogether, 8,000 to 10,000 people reside in the village, whose beauty lies in the Shishamara stream flowing through it.

“People of different communities like the Rajbangshi, Rava, Mech, Boro, and minorities dwell in the village. We want to make arrangements for tourists where they can enjoy the traditional cuisine of these communities, see their handicraft items, and enjoy their traditional music and cultural performances,” said Kanjilal.

The Shishamara meanders through the village surrounded by lush green tea estates and the pristine forest.

Residents of the village, sources said, make a living by farming. Some of them have migrated to other jobs while some work on the riverbed to gather minor minerals like sand and stones.

“The village is near Jaldapara and many other tourist destinations of the district. We plan to encourage the villagers to make homestay accommodations where tourists can come and stay. It will also provide an alternative earning option for residents,” said Kanjilal.

In Alipurduar, homestay accommodations have come up in some locations of the district, which is known for its tea estates, forests, the Buxa hills, and also for sharing borders with Bhutan.

“Under the instructions of the chief minister, we want to promote nature-based tourism. Instead of coming up with multistoreys of concrete, we want small and nature-friendly homestays to come up,” said the MLA.

He said he would request the administration to facilitate the setting up of basic infrastructure in association with the villagers. Among these include food stalls, stalls to exhibit handicrafts and other products, a common place for cultural performances and some homestays.

“Once these are done, I will take up the issue with the state tourism department for the appropriate promotion of the village,” Kanjilal added.