The Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) will hand over the Nature Park, a property having accommodations for tourists, in Lataguri of Jalpaiguri district, to the state tourism department soon.

The infrastructure was readied by the SJDA in March last year and was lying closed for one-and-a-half years.

“It has been decided that the SJDA will hand over the property. It will be opened and run by the tourism department like its other properties,” said a department source.

In 2019, the SJDA took up the task of building the property on a 2.71-acre plot. A sum of ₹9.17 crore was spent on the project.

“There are 10 cottages for tourists, along with a lobby, a kitchen, and a restaurant. Also, accommodations have been made for 10 employees who would be there at the property,” said a source privy to the project.

He said that an artificial lake has been readied and landscaping done on the site. “The water body is one of the major attractions of the site. Once the property becomes operational, there are plans to introduce boating in the water body. It is in Lataguri and we believe it will draw tourists in due course,” the source added.

As of now, there are some properties of the tourism department and the forest department in and around Lataguri, the most popular tourist destination in the Dooars on the fringes of the
Gorumara National Park.

“It will be an addition to the existing government properties which have steady demand among tourists. There are chances that the facility will open up for tourists during the upcoming winter season,” said an official.

Recently, a joint team of the SJDA and the tourism department have visited the Nature Park, said sources.

“We have visited the park according to the instructions of our senior officers. Engineers of the SJDA accompanied us,” said Jyoti Ghosh, the joint director of tourism posted in Siliguri.

Representatives of the tourism industry welcomed the decision.

“The property is ready, and yet, it has been lying closed for months now. It seems that finally, the state has taken the initiative to open it for tourists. It is a positive move as it will provide some more accommodations for tourists,” said Dibyendu Deb, who is associated with tourism in Lataguri.