Tourism body to set up Jurassic park in Gujarat

India could soon have its own Jurassic Park, only if Gujarat Tourism Corporation has its way.

GTC is planning to set up its very own Jurassic Park in Balasinore the 65-million-year old Dinosaur excavation site in Gujarat, considered to be the third largest site in the world.

Believed to be one of the biggest hatcheries of dinosaurs during the Jurassic era, Balasinore is where fossilised eggs of the fearsome Tyrranosauras (T-Rex), Megalosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Titanosaurus, Baraspauras, Stegosaurus, Iguandon were found by an excavation team of Geological Survey of India.

GTC has sent a proposal to the Tourism Ministry, expecting financial help.

The ministry however is yet to sanction the project. However it approved a feasibility study, which is now ready.

According to GTCs plan, the Dinosaur Fossil Park will have a museum, interpretation centre, cafeteria and memorabilia outlet.

It would be developed on a 250-hectare area and would work on the principle of eco tourism, community participation and fossil conservation. The Gujarat Tourism Corporation Chairman R.M. Patel said "geological excavations around the Nawabi town of Balasinore unearthed one of the three largest dinosaur sites in the world, including clutches of eggs dating back 65 million years.

Similar results have also been found in sites like Ukra, Fatehgarh, Gabat and Dahod in central Gujarat. Therefore, we are projecting ourselves as a major Jurassic Park."

"We are now planning to set up a dinosaur centre in Balasinore. Balasinore's eco-tourism potential is huge. Tourists from all over now visit these sites to catch a glimpse of these eggs.

"Balanisore also has an exceptional display of Jurassic fossil tracks, which are 2000 million years old. Our Dinosaur Fossil Park will have an education, interpretation and research centre, fossil tracks, camping site with dinosaur models and picnic spots."

He added: "However we are yet to get a go-ahead from the ministry. They have given us a small amount to prepare a feasibility report. We need a lot more money."