CM Sukhu stresses for early completion of tourism projects – allocate 70 Cr for promoting adventure tourism
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while presiding over a meeting to review the developmental projects being undertaken in the State with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) here on Wednesday late evening, stressed the need for early completion of these projects so that benefits could be well reaped in time. He said that all buildings should be effectively utilized. Furthermore, he also called for the revival or transfer of any redundant projects to other departments to ensure their commencement.
Recognizing the significance of the tourism sector as a major source of employment and revenue generation in the State, the Chief Minister said that the State Government was promoting the green industry in the state and the Government was going to spend Rs 4,000 crore on green tourism industry which will go a long way in enhancing the influx of tourists. He said that the State Government has allocated Rs. 70 crore for commencing adventure tourism at Pong Dam in Kangra district which will provide employment and self-employment opportunities to the local youth.
The present State Government is implementing comprehensive measures to enhance tourism activities with the aim of developing Kangra district as the ‘Tourism Capital’ of the State. Earnest efforts were being made in this direction and various measures would be taken in future as well to give a fillip to the tourism industry.
The tourism department should not only focus on constructing buildings but also should make adequate arrangements for electricity and water supply, in order to prevent unnecessary delays in initiating these projects, said the Chief Minister.
Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, Raghubir Singh Bali, MLA, Chandershekhar, Chief Secretary, Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary, Onkar Sharma, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Bharat Khera, Principal Secretary Tourism, Devesh Kumar Secretary Education, Dr. Abhishek Jain, Managing Director H.P. Tourism Development Corporation, Amit Kashyap and other officers gave their valuable suggestions during the meeting.