Khandwa

Madhya Pradesh Government today decided to constitute a “Tourism Cabinet” on the lines of one existing for agriculture in a move to give a fillip to the key revenue-generating sector.

The decision was taken by at a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on board cruise boat ‘Narmada Queen’ in the backwaters of Indira Sagar Dam on river Narmada.

This was the first Cabinet meeting in the state that took place on board a cruise boat.

“We have decided to form Tourism Cabinet for the promotion of tourism sector,” Chouhan told reporters after the meeting.

Tourism Cabinet will consist of ministers from 5 to 6 departments who will formulate and oversee implementation of tourism-related policies, he said.

The state has such a body for agriculture called “Krishi Cabinet”, which has ministers from a dozen departments.

The State Cabinet also decided to hand over forts, heritage buildings and palaces to private parties for developing them.

To tap immense tourism potential of Hanuwantia, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corp (MPTDC) will organise “Jal Mahotsav” there from February 12-19. The festival’s theme will be water tourism, he said.

The entire Cabinet was focusing on promotion of this key sector and the state is observing year 2016 as Tourism Year, Chouhan said.

A decision was also taken to amend the Tourism Policy of 2008 to promote Madhya Pradesh at the national and international levels, he said.

Earlier, Chouhan and his Ministerial colleagues arrived at Hanuwantia in a tourist bus from Indore, around 130km from here, and later hopped on the cruise boat, where the Cabinet meeting took place.

On the way, villagers welcomed Chouhan at a number of places, including Alwada where farmers also submitted a memorandum, demanding compensation for their damaged chilly crop.

PTI