New Delhi, Feb. 17: The Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) has been asked to prepare the masterplan for the development of tourism and infrastructure in the Northeast.
The masterplan, which would be prepared under the aegis of the department of development of northeastern region (Doner), comes in the wake of the recommendation by a couple of task forces on tourism and infrastructure formed in September last year.
Sources said the master plan would go into all the details of the guidelines forwarded by the task forces. ?This would start with the funds needed for the implementation. The reports are likely to be completed in a few months? time,? one of them said.
The task force on tourism had pinpointed six ?focus areas? to boost tourism in the region that included community-based eco-tourism, generation of employment at various levels, preservation of biodiversity and pilgrimage routes, development of handicrafts and handlooms and exploration of the rich cultural heritage in the Northeast.
The IDFC is a finance agency in which the Centre has a stake. It recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Doner during the business summit.
On infrastructure, the masterplan would zero in on measures required on power, roads, agriculture and bamboo as well as the infrastructure needed for growth of tourism. The programme for the Northeast Trend Expo 2004, which would be held between March 18 and 21 at Pragati Maidan here, has also been finalised with the objective of making it a ?regular event of Delhi?s annual calendar.?
This is the first time that a fair devoted exclusively to the region would be held on the maidan, which hosts all important annual events like the trade fair. The event would be organised by Doner in association with the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation and the state governments. An official said the four-day programme would be planned to ensure it is different from the ?usual song and dance programmes.?