Gogoi wants substantial investment in the Tourism sector

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today Tourism has the highest potential to generate employment in terms of its capital employment ratio.

Addressing the 52nd meeting of the National Development Council (NDC) here, Mr Gogoi said substantial increase of investment in Tourism sector during Eleventh Five Year Plan would ensure generation of adequate employment opportunities in the State.

Mr Gogoi said the special package which is being offered to Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) may also be extended to all those councils which are predominantly inhabited by Tribal people. The existing infrastructure available in these council areas is very poor and not conducive for taking up development works.

He said the plan assistance received by Asom for its sixth schedule areas is much less compared to the grant received by Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram. He said these discrepencies by the Planning Commission should be removed at the earliest through Special Central Assistance under the annual plan to equalise the benefit.

He said all the efforts for development will prove futile if adequate steps are not taken to control floods and erosion, which not only affect the standing crops but also cause loss of assets, infrastructures, cattle and human lives every year. Focused attention needs to be given during 11th plan for controlling floods and erosion and to reduce damages.

Mr Gogoi said that the surplus power generated by the mega projects in North Eastern Region (NER) should be made available on first priority for growth of the industry to the deficit States of NER before its evacuation to other States. For this purpose policy intervention, if required, should be made on a priority basis.

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