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MoT emphasises on sanitation at tourist sites

Anupama Sushil - New Delhi

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India will now put strong emphasis on sanitation at all major tourism projects. According to S Banerjee, secretary tourism, Government of India, the ministry will significantly focus on responsible tourism and sustainability. With the ministry currently working on developing 22 cities as mega tourism destinations, sanctions are given only when the local municipal body commits to look after proper sanitation issues like providing drinking water, public toilets, solid waste management, etc at the sites. To begin with, Amritsar has been given funding only after the local body committed to look after the local sanitation issues, stated the secretary. This will be followed for all sites. Recently a special grant has also been given to clean up waste at the pilgrim destination of Badrinath in Uttrakhand. The ministry, he said, was looking at holding a major conference later this year addressing issues of sustainability, climate change and responsible tourism. It is also concentrating on inclusive tourism to ensure that the local people have a stake.