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Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma visits Rongma Gitil eco-tourism destination in Kharkutta, North Garo Hills on Sunday.[/caption]
Dimapur, Dec. 2 (EMN): Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday visited the newly discovered Rongma Gitil eco-tourism destination in Kharkutta, North Garo Hills, where two-day tourism festival is underway.
Thrilled with the potential of Rongma Gitil, which has all the ingredients to be promoted as an eco and adventure tourism destination, the chief minister announced INR 50 lakh assistance to initially develop the destination.
Sangma said that through different line departments the site would be developed and promoted in the next few years.
“I am bowled with the mesmerising beauty of Rongma Gitil and the stone cave in the area. I thank the local MLA Rupert Momin for initiating to develop the spot as a tourism destination,” he said.
He informed that INR 300 crore was sanctioned by the Government of India for promotion and development of tourism destinations in Meghalaya of which INR 100 crore will be exclusively used to develop select destinations in Garo Hills.
“Tourism will boost the image of the state as well as provide work for the local populace. We have to integrate tourism activities with a view to provide employment and development of entrepreneurship,” he maintained.
The chief minister pointed out that places like Goa and Sikkim have very similar topographical characteristics, weather and vegetation, and that these places have very high per capita income in terms of tourism and tourism-related services.
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Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma(third from right) along with other officials at Rongma Gitil eco-tourism destination in Kharkutta, North Garo Hills on Sunday.[/caption]
“The youth has to come forward to look at tourism as an alternative livelihood option. The government is working hard to adopt policies to ensure that livelihood opportunities are created in the tourism sector vis-à-vis attract high tourist footfall in Meghalaya,” he said.
He also disclosed that funds for tourism sector have been enhanced for Meghalaya in view of promoting tourism in the State.
“Tourism cannot develop without proper communication in terms of road connectivity and that in order to develop such connectivity, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) budget has gone up from the previous INR 150 crore to 500 crore,” he said.
The chief minister mentioned that about INR 18,000 crore has also been allocated for the development of National Highways which will help in promoting tourism as road connectivity is the foundation of all forms of development. North Garo Hills has also been allocated about INR 253 crore for all-round development, he disclosed.
Food processing of banana, pineapple and oranges have also been given priority and that Kharkutta has been allocated about INR 2 crore for the same. He also mentioned that there are number of schemes and projects namely jack fruit mission, aqua mission, ginger mission and others to help promote farmers in the state.