States » EastPosted at: Oct 2 2026 4:22PM


Tiger return to Buxa to open new tourism chapter in Dooars: Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari

Siliguri, Oct 2 (UNI) The return of the tiger to Buxa Tiger Reserve will open a new chapter in the development of the Dooars as an international nature-tourism destination, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Friday, asserting that the state government would use the region's rich natural resources to attract tourists from across the world.
Speaking at a programme organised at Alipurduar after formally releasing a three-year-old tigress at Buxa Tiger Reserve brought from Bihar's Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Adhikari said, "It has started. Keep watching. The West Bengal government will use the natural resources of the Dooars to bring tourists from across the world here."
The three-year-old tigress was successfully released into Buxa as part of the long-planned tiger reintroduction programme, he said.
The exercise marks a major step towards restoring a viable tiger population in the reserve, which had remained without a resident tiger population for years.
The Chief Minister said the present initiative was the result of cooperation between the Centre and the state.
He said union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav has conveyed the Centre's plan to identify around 2,000 acres of land adjoining the Manas National Park and the Buxa landscape for further conservation-related development.
According to Adhikari, the Centre has deputed an official, Soumitra Das, to oversee the process and the work would begin shortly.
Emphasising the larger tourism potential of the region, Adhikari said Buxa, Jaldapara and the wider Dooars together offered enormous possibilities for nature and wildlife tourism.
He referred to his visit to Jaldapara and said instructions had been issued to further improve facilities, including the Holong bungalow.
He also announced that the tiger reintroduction programme would not stop with Friday's release. "Keep faith in this government. In the coming days, step by step, three more tigers will be released in Buxa," he said.
Adhikari thanked Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for extending cooperation in bringing the tigress from Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
He said the animal had been captured after considerable effort and transported to Bengal before being successfully released in Buxa.
The Chief Minister also credited the Centre and the state government with jointly conceptualising the reintroduction initiative.
Referring to Yadav's earlier announcement regarding the October 2 release, he said the project represented a "joint" effort of the Centre and the state and described it as the outcome of a "double-engine, double-force" approach to developing the region.
Adhikari used the occasion to attack the previous government, alleging that Buxa had once been a tiger reserve only in name and that there had been no adequate initiative or political will to restore its tiger population.
He alleged that the earlier government had been more interested in quarrels than in development.
Turning to the wider development of Alipurduar, the Chief Minister said much remained to be done, including the development of a full-fledged Alipurduar University and several other infrastructure and development initiatives. He said he would return to Alipurduar on November 15.
"I will repay the debt of the people through development," he said, referring to the political support that the region had extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the election of several MPs and MLAs since 2019.
Adhikari said nature had endowed Alipurduar and the Dooars with abundant resources but alleged that these had suffered exploitation over the years, including illegal extraction of sand and stone, destruction of forests and wildlife poaching.
He also announced special measures for indigenous tribal communities.
Referring to his proposed visit on the occasion of Tribal Day, he said special food packets would be provided to members of particularly vulnerable indigenous communities.
He directed the administration to ensure that every household in Totopara received basic amenities such as electricity, drinking water and ration kits.
The Chief Minister said the government would continue to work for the overall development of Alipurduar while protecting its natural and cultural wealth.
Adhikari concluded his speech by saying that he had to leave for Kolkata, where he was scheduled to host the players of the Brazil-Uruguay-India football engagement at a dinner, citing paucity of time.
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Tags: #Tiger return to Buxa to open new tourism chapter in Dooars: Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari
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