Mother nature has gifted Sikkim with a land of fairs and festivals, snow-clad mountains, holy lakes, peaks, religious centers, hot springs, river valleys which is an ideal place for trekking, water-rafting with varied flora and fauna which makes Sikkim today a major tourist destination for both domestic and foreign tourist.

In consideration of the tourism potential, the state Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim is making all out efforts in hospitality and tourism sector to make Sikkim a complete tourist destination in terms of infrastructure with eco-friendly projects throughout the state.

The State Planning Commission led by its Honorable Deputy Chairman Mr. S.M. Limboo along with honorable members, Mrs. Kalawati Subba, Mrs. R.Ongmu, Mrs. Manita Pradhan, Mrs. Lakila Tongden, Mr. Madan Chettri, accompanied by Secretary Tourism Department, Mr.S.B.S. Bhaduria, Superintending Engineer Mr. Prakash Chettri, Divisional engineer (N/E) Mr.Sukbir Subba, Assistant engineer Mr. Sherap Bhutia, Deputy Director, Mr.Ujarman Rai and officers from State Planning Department conducted two days long tour starting from 3rd Mile, East Sikkim heading towards Tsomgo and visiting various spots on the way to Phademchen from 12th to 13th of November, 2010 and inspected the ongoing projects pertaining to tourism sector being initiated by the Tourism Department, Government of Sikkim.

A multistoried tourism facilitation centre building which is in the verge of completion of its construction at 3rd Mile was inspected in the early hours of 12th of November,2010 by the entourage and suggested for no compromise in quality in terms of materials and technology. While inspecting the way site amenity at 18th Mile, J.N. Road the members of the state Planning commission regretted about the delay in commissioning of the amenity and suggested the Tourism department for early completion of the work.

Thereafter, the team inspected the cafeteria and ropeway construction site at Tsomgo Lake. The members directed the contractor to construct the ropeway with proper supervision of the departmental officials. The members also directed the department to lease out the cafeteria to a party who can run the cafeteria in a better way so that the basic idea of keeping cafeteria would not be defeated.

Proposed modern wayside amenity project site at Gnathang Chok which is being funded under Border Area Development Plan amounting to the tune of Rs. 65.00 lakhs was also inspected, wherein the Secretary Tourism presented the details of project such as landscaping, layout and other aspects incorporated in the proposed project.

The members also inspected and discussed in details about the technical aspects with regard to the proposed project on tourism and heritage centre at Phadamchen and way side amenity at Lingtam, to be constructed at the estimated cost amounting to Rs. 1.70 crore and Rs. 75.00 lakhs respectively sanctioned under Border Area Development Plan. Honorable Deputy Chairman Mr. Limboo also suggested the secretary Tourism and his engineers to think of a big project so that Rangpo to Nathula via Lingtam could be utilized as alternative route for tourists visiting Nathula and the project be framed duly considering minimum destruction of natural vegetation of the area.

Courtesy: Sikkim Mail

 

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