In order to give the much-needed boost in tourism in Madhya Pradesh, the State regime is organising a three-day ‘lake Festival’ from Friday in the city of lakes.
Informing this at a Press meet here, Housing and Tourism Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said, “Besides sports and cultural programmes, the major attraction will be an International Conference on lakes and Wetlands from February 14-15 to showcase the efforts made by various agencies to conserve Bhoj Wetland.” The Minister said efforts are being made to invite not only scientists, but also policy makers, people's representatives, resource managers and catchments stakeholders from 15 countries to the conference.
The objective of this conference is to bring together experts associated with wetland and lake conservation and their habitats, with the underlying goal of establishing a basis for developing multidisciplinary solutions to various issues. Vijayvargiya said the conference would be organised in six segments including Ecology and Science of lakes and Wetlands, lakes and Wetlands Conservation and Management, Climate Change and lakes and Wetlands, lakes and Wetlands of Madhya Pradesh, Wetlands and Agriculture Opportunities and limitations and lakes and Wetlands Human Connections.
He said that tourism is a major industry and the Department had bagged several awards like by the Centre 'Krishikarman' award for agricultural growth. Expressing concern over the threat to lakes due to increasing population in catchments areas not only in Bhopal but other parts of the country, the Minister said ‘Talab Bachao Abhiyan’ (Save lakes Campaign) would be launched across the country. To a query, Vijayvargiya said master plan for the Upper lake here is almost completed and the lake would be given a new look through this plan.