DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 10 (MExN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) today suggested that henceforth all development projects of the Tourism Department should be on Government purchased land as per the Government standing order.
A press release from the NPRAAF Information and Publicity Wing further urged that no tourism property should become a private property or “VIP farm house” after completion of the projects.
The NPRAAF informed that the Government of India sanctions over Rs 100 Crore annually for promotion of the tourism sector in the state through CSS and NEC.
It however claimed that all Tourist Resorts and Tourist Reception Centres (TRC) constructed by the department through the fund “could not generate any revenue to help the state economy as all the resorts were built on private land are mostly owned by politicians and bureaucrats."
“The Tourist Reception Centers and Tourist Resorts have become private property or VIP farm house,” it alleged.
“Even though the department has tourist lodges in Kohima, Wokha and Mokokchung, it has been privatised and all the tourist lodges including Dimapur are running on loss,” the forum further claimed.
It further called upon the Government of Nagaland to make its Tourism Policy comprehensive.
The forum questioned the government if “assets created on former and present bureaucrats’ and politicians’ private land funded through CSS and NEC will continue to be a private or public property.” “What is the Government plan on those assets?” it posed.
“In the larger interest of the State Government constructing Tourist Resort or Tourist Reception Centre on a private land other than on Government owned land, should execute MoU with the land owner stating that, no land owner after completion of the projects shall claim the property on the land nor sell off the land along with the property under any pretext, as there has been such cases as well in the recent past and therefore, should be discouraged,” it further stated.
It further appealed to all political parties in the state to discontinue the “habit of converting government property into private property when they are in power and also to stop illegal occupation of government property.”
“If the trend continues, we will be left with little or no public property in due course of time as a common wealth,” the forum cautioned.
It meanwhile suggested that the Nagaland Government should set up a special committee involving Non Governmental Organisations to identify tourist spots and build facilities for tourists so that they may enjoy the hospitality and good environment during their stay or visit to the state.”
“Otherwise, the recent award to Nagaland for the Most Promising Destination Award 2019 at Travel and the Tourism fair in Mumbai by Tourism Network will signify nothing unless the most promising destination is made tourist friendly,” it observed.
The NPRAAF further claimed that even though the Government of India sanctioned over Rs 100 Crore annually, i.e. 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, under the scheme of Swadesh Darshan alone, there has been “zero productivity through the said scheme.”
It meanwhile urged that the Engineering Wing of the Tourism Department should work in close coordination with the respective Tourist Officer of the state if the department has to function efficiently.
“The tourism infrastructure projects should involve Tourist Officers and completion of such projects should be issued certificate by the Tourist Officer instead of engineering wing alone releasing bills without the knowledge of Tourist Officers,” it added.
It reminded that as per government order, Tourist Officers should identify the selection of spot feasibility for construction of tourist facilities and issuance of completion certificate on completion of projects. This, the forum demanded, should be strictly adhered to.
“The Engineering Wing is the backbone of the Tourism Department and is manned by Engineers deputed to the Department from PWD normally for a period of 3 years to give technical guidance and to oversee developmental work of the construction, however, with political favour most Engineers stay for over decades, which has proved counter-productive for the department’s growth,” the forum maintained.
