Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma assured that the Central Government will encourage publicity of tourism and culture in Chhattisgarh besides support in overcoming Naxalism in the State.
The assurance was given by Sharma in a meeting with Chhattisgarh Tourism and Culture Minister Ajay Chandrakar in New Delhi on Friday.The officials said that during the meeting with Chandrakar, Sharma issued directions to the officers of Tourism and Culture Department for taking immediate action on various proposal of the Chhattisgarh Government. Sharma expressed interest in development of tourist facilities at Sirpur, Chitrakot, Teerathgarh and Kutumsar cave.
He also expressed interest in the State government’s proposal for establishment of Multi Arts Chhattisgarh Kala Kendra and Swami Vivekanand International Award.Sharma said that he will visit Chhattisgarh in few months and review the tourist spots.
Chandrakar informed him about tourist attractions in Chhattisgarh and said that the State has astonishing tourist spots but it has not received desired cooperation from the Central government’s Tourism Department for widespread publicity. He said that Sirpur, Chitrakot and biodiversity of the State needs to be promoted globally and requested the Union Minister to provide an opportunity to the folk artists of Chhattisgarh to display their art at national and international platforms. Chandrakar also gave a proposal for organizing international tribal festival in Chhattisgarh in 2015.
He said that more than 32 percent of the population of the State is tribal dominated and organizing tribal festivals will help in preserving their spectacular and diverse culture besides providing opportunity to exchange ideas and cultures with other tribal people of the country.He also requested for including famous Archeological site Sirpur in the Buddha circuit and for providing assistance in organizing and publicity of Sirpur Mahotsava.In the meeting he also requested for cooperation in lighting arrangement, up gradation of hotel and motel besides starting the hotel management Institute at Chitrakot.
Chandrakar also gave proposals for widespread publicity of Bastar Dussehra, Chitrakot waterfall, Kutumsar cave and Kanger valley national park. Secretary of tourism department RC Sinha, Managing Director of Chhattisgarh Tourism Board Santosh Kumar Mishra and Director of Culture department Rakesh Chaturvedi were also present in the meeting.