Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today announced several important and new amenities to be created at Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, for the pilgrims undertaking “Kailash Mansarovar Yatra” along that route.
Dr Jitendra Singh was briefing the media after a meeting convened by him, in the presence of Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons, to plan out new tourism projects for Northeast. The meeting was attended by senior officers of the Ministry of Northeast and the Ministry of Tourism.
Pertinent to mention that Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is undertaken as an annual feature during the period between June to September. The route through Nathu La Pass in Sikkim is motorable and suitable particularly for senior citizens who are unable to undertake arduous trekking through the other route. From Gangtok, the route passes through scenic places like Hangu Lake and the vast landscape of the Tibetan plateau.
The Ministry of Northeast / DoNER, according to Dr Jitendra Singh, is creating amenities for transit halt, rest and acclimatization of the pilgrims at Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. This, he said, will be DoNER Ministry’s contribution to popularize the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through picturesque Sikkim which will promote tourism and at the same time, it will also offer great relief and comfort to the devotees undertaking this pilgrimage.
Dr Jitendra Singh also disclosed that the Ministry of Northeast was sparing its funds to create several tourist facilities at the popular Holiday Resort of Majuli Island in Assam, which is the world’s biggest river island, situated along Brahmaputra. This, he said, is bound to increase the number of tourists visiting this island landscape from across the world.
Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to the recently approved “North-East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme” (NESIDS) under the DoNER Ministry, which is providing financial assistance for projects of physical infrastructure to promote tourism in the region. Over and above, he added, through the North Eastern Council (NEC), work is under way for promoting theme-based regional tourism circuit.
In the last four years of the Modi Government, Dr Jitendra Singh said, improvement in connectivity and transport along air-route, railway and road has given big impetus to tourism. It is heartening to note, he said, that independent private tour operators are conducting tours to Northeast from all over the country, which is providing a major source of livelihood to the local population.
Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons said after the meeting that Northeast has great potential for tourism as well as film-shooting, not only for India, but entire South-East Asia. He promised all support from the Ministry of Tourism to the Ministry of Northeast (DoNER) in this regard.