Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 25:
While touching on a wide range of issues covered under his new ministerial allocation of Tourism and Youth Affairs and Sports portfolios, PHE Minister K Govindas stated that steps would be taken to relax restriction imposed on visit of foreign tourists to Manipur.
Besides putting up the matter of reviewing Restricted Area Permit to the Government he would propose for allowing foreign tourists into the State without possession of permit, said the Minister.
Outlining the prospect of tourism industry Govindas nevertheless informed of central security force personnel occupying almost all the tourist homes in Manipur with the exception of Sendra Tourist Home at Loktak Lake.
The occupation of these tourist centres by security force for over seven years has also dented income generation potential of State Tourism Department as the Home Department owes about Rs 45 lakh as rent charge, said the Minister.
As prevailing law and order situation necessitates deployment of additional security force personnel throughout the State the Government cannot decide on removing the security personnel from the tourists centre for the time being.
But the Home Department would be appraised very soon to cough up pending rental dues, Govindas iterated during interaction with this reporter today.
Pledging to stick to 'no politics in sports' agenda, he alleged politicising sports in India is the main factor for the dismal performance of the country's athletes at the ongoing Athens Olympic Games where only a shooting silver medal could be achieved by the large Indian contingent.
On matters concerning public health he regretted that unstable situation in Manipur has resulted in delay of Centre sponsored water supply schemes in hill district headquarters.