Mahesh Sharma visits Arunachal, discusses tourism projects with CM

Minister of State for Culture, Tourism (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma, who is presently on a two-day visit to the north-east, made a tour of the various ongoing projects of tourism of the Centre in Arunachal Pradesh.

Dr. Sharma held a meeting with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki at Itanagar. During his meeting with Tuki, he highlighted the importance of the north-east especially from the view point of tourism.

He said that the north-east has a large unexploited potential for tourism and the Union Tourism Ministry has designated a special circuit for the region under its new Swadesh Darshan scheme. The government will help to create the necessary infrastructure and other facilities required for promoting tourism in the region under this scheme.

Dr. Sharma held a detailed meeting with the senior officers of Arunachal Pradesh on projects of Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

Earlier in the day, he paid an inspection visit to the Adventure Camping site and Tourist Lodge at Bhalukpong in Arunachal Pradesh, which is sponsored by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, as a part of Sports and Adventure Tourism project.

Dr. Sharma laid the foundation stone of Tourist Lodge at Siddhartha Vihar in Itanagar as a part of Development of Itanagar-Doimukh-Sagalee Circuit by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. He also paid a visit to the Buddhist Gompa near Itanagar.

Dr. Sharma, who is accompanied by Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and senior officials of the Tourism Ministry, will visit the states of Manipur and Nagaland on the second day of his visit tomorrow where he will lay the foundation stone of the Regional Convention Centre of North-East Zonal Cultural Centre (NEZCC) at Dimapur.

On his return to Guwahati, Dr. Sharma will visit Kamkhya temple. Kamakhya has been identified as one of the twelve cities for the new scheme PRASAD of Ministry of Tourism.