Imphal, July 25: The Railway Bridge that will come up between Noney and Tupul will be the world’s tallest bridge. The scenic beauty of the hilly region of the State will attract foreign tourists in the State. The government has marked various tourist circuits in the State, with Shirui of Ukhrul and Zuko valley of Senapati amongst the top priorities.
Chief Minister O Ibobi stated in the House today.
He was replying to a motion for disapproval of policy cut raised by MLA Dr I Ibohalbi, MLA Th Shyamkumar and MLA Dikho during the discussion on Demand no 45 for Tourism for Rs 46,36,56,000.
The MLAs had raised the motions on account of inability to tap or explore the tourism potential of the State, lack of proper planning in Tourism department, failure to bring international flights in the State as planned and on falire to promote Dzuko Valley as State Tourism spot.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister had also added that the State can generate lots of resources from tourism.
We have some boundary issues with Nagaland at Zuko, but it could be ironed out by sitting together with the neighbouring State, he added.
He said Manipur has lots of potential for tourism as gifted by Mother nature.
Most of the tourist destinations under construction in various places of the State might be completed by next year, he said.
He further said that the Loktak Lake is also one of the most important among the 24 mega projects taken up in the State.
The lake has bigger potential even when compared to the famous Dal Lake of Kashmir. The government is considering for applying PPP model in the tourist spots to monitor the tax collected, he said.
At present, the International airport has lack of some components, like visa on arrival facility, Customs and Emigration office etc. Emigration check-post at Moreh will be computerised soon with internet facilities, personnel of Home department have been trained in this regard.
The Sadu Chidu Leimaram Water fall approach road needs to widen and the leakage of tax from the tourist will be checked by the state government, O Ibobi said.
Opposition member Dr I Ibohalbi suggested that the State should have a Tourism Policy. In 1999, 29 tourist spots were identified in the State and 335 foreign tourists arrived, income of Rs 18.55 Lakhs was generated from it. In 2013-14 the numbers of tourist spots have increased to 57. Promotion of tourism could help in mitigating the unemployment problem in the State, but the law and order situation could also be a hurdle, Ibohalbi maintained.
He urged the government that the Sadu Chiru Leimaram Waterfall is entitle as “Mughal Garden”, an appropriate name of Manipur should be given.
