MOREH, (Manipur-Myanmar border) Nov 24 ? Under the ?Look East Policy? and ?Border Area Development Prog-ramme?, a tourist centre was inaugurated at Moreh, India?s gateway to the South-east Asian countries with Manipur Tourism Minister Govindas Konthoujam as chief guest. This was the first major step taken up by the Indian Government to boost tourism industries after signing bilateral agreements with Myanmar on October 25 in New Delhi.
The centre was constructed at the cost of Rs. 45 lakh at Moreh Ward No. 9 which is a stone?s throw away from Namphalong Market complex, the main business centre in Myanmar. Speaking on the occasion, Govindas said the centre will provide facilities to tourists ? domestic and foreign nationals who want to enjoy to and fro tourism from the SE Asian countries to the Middle East through the NE region.
Expressing unhappiness over hindrance in tourism industries because of frequent abductions of domestic and foreign nationals in the NE states particularly in Manipur, the Minister said visit of foreign nationals in the state is on the decline. Over 70,544 tourists including 283 foreigners visited Manipur last year.
The minister, however, expressed the hope that withdrawal of certain laws which restricted the tourists would increase the flow of tourists in the state. The primary deterrent in the smooth flows of the tourists is the presence of the Inner Line Permit system being enforced in Nagaland and imposition of Protected Area Permit system to foreigners including press persons who want to enter Manipur.
The entire State of Manipur has been brought under the Protected Area Regime under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958. Accordingly foreign tourists require PAP issued by the government authorities to enter into or remain in the State.
To supply adequate drinking water to the people residing at this border areas, Centre has agreed to set up two water supply schemes at Moreh, Govindas Konthoujam who also holds Public Health Engineering portfolio said. He was speaking in the backdrop of acute shortage of drinking water to the populace of this border town. He further said that the new schemes to be taken up under the BADP would be completed by 2005.
The inaugural function of the tourist centre was held on Monday with Manipur Planning and Development Authority chairman Kangujam Ranjit as president and Manipur Tribal Development Corporation Chairman K Korungthang as guest of honour.