ITDC
and Hindustan Salts Ltd. join hands
for
Development of Tourism
India Tourism Development
Corporation (ITDC), a Government of India undertaking under the aegis of the
Ministry of Tourism will sign an MoU with Hindustan Salts Ltd (HSL) and its
subsidiary Sambhar Salts Ltd. (SSL), a Government of India undertaking under
the administrative control of the Department of Heavy Industry. The objective
of the association is the proposed development of tourist centres in the states
of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.
The MoU will be signed today by Dr.
Lalit K. Panwar, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, ITDC and Shri R.K.
Tandon, Chairman & Managing Director, Hindustan Salts Ltd.
To explore the possibilities of developing
its large land bank at different locations, HSL with its subsidiary SSL is
joining hands with ITDC to undertake the development of regions of Khara Ghoda
(Gujarat), Sambhar
Lake (Rajasthan) and
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) as tourist centres. These regions provide tremendous
potential for development of ‘Heritage and Theme Based Tourism’. This
association will witness ITDC leveraging its expertise and technical support
for development of infrastructure for promotion of tourism.
In the initial phase, a detailed
Master Plan will be prepared entailing details of the different projects post
which individual projects would be undertaken jointly either through formation
of a joint venture company/companies/Public Private Partnership or involvement
of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC). As part of the
understanding, HSL/SSL will provide “Rights to use of land” for development and
implementation of tourism related projects and ITDC will provide expertise and
technical support for development of centres for tourist interest.
Contd…2/-
- 2 -
The two Organizations also agree that special
emphasis would be given to the areas of Tourism in preparation of the Master Plan/Sub
Plans viz. Eco tourism; Cultural Tourism; Adventure Tourism; Salt Lake Tourism
and Execution; Special Tourist Trolley Train around Salt Ponds and Salt Lake
Area of Sambhar on the lines of Heritage Toy Trains as operating in Shimla and
Darjeeling; Health Tourism; Heritage Tourism which may include converting one
of the old residential colony of pre-independence time made during British
regime at Sambhar Salt Works as “Heritage Village”; Religious Tourism to
centuries old Temples; Boating on Canal Tourism on proposed artificial canal
along approx. 110 kms boundary of Sambhar Salts Ltd; Rural Tourism and Environmental
Landscaping and Commercial exploitable fruit plantation around Salt Ponds, Salt
Lake and proposed Canal approx 110 kms boundary of Sambhar Salts Ltd and
proposed tourist centres.
A Task Force of two members of HSL/SSL and two
members of ITDC would be formed post signing of the MoU to further coordinate
the activity and provide required support/arrangements for preparation of the Master Plan and Sub Plans.
Besides the Tourism projects as emerging from the Master
Plan the following would also be considered and their implementation will be
give priority for development:
Ø
Centre for
Skill Development for youth under the ‘Hunar Se Rozgar’ scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.
Ø
Camp/Tented
Accommodation for Tourism around Salt Ponds, proposed Artificial Canal and Salt
Lake Area.
Ø
A centre for
“Eco Tourism and Research” as per “Ramsar Conventions”
Ø
Development of
Salt Heritage Museum.
The MoU will initially be valid for a period of 3
years from the date of signing, extendable further for a period as would be decided
by the Management of both the Organizations.
