Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda on Wednesday admitted in the State Assembly that his department does not have detailed information on the number of attacks on tourists visiting several destinations in the State.
Replying to a question by Amar Prasad Satpathy (BJD), Panda said his department had sent letters to all district Collectors and SPs on September 9 last year to provide adequate security to the tourists.
On the measures taken in this regard, he said mandatory provisions have been made for the tourists to submit their identity cards and documents while staying in hotels, lodges and Dharmasalas.
For the safety of the passengers, three special police assistance centres and five watchtowers have been set up along the Puri beach while regular patrolling is being conducted along the Puri-Konark and Puri-Satapada marine drives, he said. Besides, to provide the tourists falling victims to mishaps, a tourist contingency fund has been formed for financial assistance to their next of kin, Panda said.