Hailakandi: Assam's PWD, fisheries and excise minister Parimal Suklabaidya said the administration had set in motion development of Bhuvan Hills in Barak Valley as a tourist destination.

The state government had sanctioned Rs 10 crore for development of the hills in Cachar district under a signature project of the government, he said.

Bhuvan Hills, nearly 40km from Silchar town, is a centre of attraction for lakhs of Shiva devotees who assemble on the hills every year during Shivaratri. Lakhs of people congregate during the traditional Bhuvan fair.

Suklabaidya said Rs 8 crore will be spent for construction of road in the hills and the rest for constructions of a rest house, toilets, a shed for waiting, among others.

He said the state government is planning to make Bhuvan Hills one of the major tourist spots of the state. The minister said chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have shown keen interest for its development.

Suklabaidya organised a meeting of top officials of the Cachar district administration to implement the plan on the Krishnapur side of the hills. The meeting was attended by the deputy commissioner of Cachar, S. Lakshanan, superintendent of police Rakesh Roushan, divisional forest officer S.B. Choudhury and PWD engineers.

Lakshanan welcomed the decision of the government to sanction funds for development of infrastructure of the hills.# Keeping a daylong fast, pilgrims from across the region climb the hills and worship Shiva after taking a dip in a pond near the temple. The pilgrims climb the steep hills with the help of sticks. The elderly and children climb with the help of others.