Govt. committed to tourism development in Telangana: Bhatti

Addressing a media conference after visiting the Khammam Fort in Khammam the district headquarters on Monday, he said that they would allocate any amount of funds for development of tourism sector and wide publicity would be given to Telangana tourism and make a place for it in the world tourism map.

Bhatti appreciated the decision of Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao to visit tourist places of a district. He toured along with MLAs and Ministers of the district concerned. As part of this decision, Jupally already completed his programme in Mahbubnagar and started his Khammam tour.

It was a good suggestion from the Tourism Minister that MLAs and Ministers of the district concerned should visit and stay in tourist places along with their families. Noting that there are ample opportunities for development of eco tourism and temple tourism in Khammam district, the Deputy Chief Minister said the forests from Kunnerasani to Bhadrachalam were ideal for eco tourism.

Similarly, temple tourism opportunities were aplenty from Buddhist monument in Nelakondapalli to Sitarama Swamy temple in Bhadrachalam via Jamalapuram. The ropeway proposal to fort in Khammam district headquarters has been pending for long and the Minister Jupally signed the file giving approvals for rope way construction.

Funds would be released to start work and it would be completed in a few months. Bhatti said Buddhists from countries like Japan be invited to Nelakondapalli Buddhist monuments to promote and publicise places of tourism in the State. As a result, tourist footfall from across the world would increase generating revenue to local areas and pave way for employment to youth.

According to Bhatti, Hyderabad is hub for software sector and facilities for trekking, walking tracks, resorts and internet facilities be provided in the forest areas to enable IT sector employees to spend relaxed time during week-ends or once a month.

If all facilities like high speed internet are provided, the IT sector employees could relax as well as work from here if required. Speaking at the Nelakondapalli Buddhist monument, Bhatti suggested that on important Buddhist festivals, celebrations should be organised in Nelakondapalli.

The government has already sanctioned Rs 10 crore for promotion of Buddhist tourism sites and works should be started soon. Kondapalli Aramam has not lost its prominence and it should be protected while also opening old ‘Aramams’ to tourists. Measures should be taken to provide adequate facilities and security to tourists, he added.