DW BUREAU / Chandigarh/Ferozepur

Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday said that the tourism department would develop 30 places in the state having immense historical importance as hubs of tourism including Shaheedi Smarak Hussainiwala, historical Gurudwara Saragarhi in Ferozepur and Harike Wetland.

Stating this while paying homage at the martyrs memorial at Hussainiwala, Sidhu said this would result in employment avenues for the people, development of tourism sector apart from facilities for the tourists. The government would spend Rs 600 crore on the project.

He said that a comprehensive plan has been chalked out for the development of Shaheedi Smarak Hussainiwala to attract tourists from national and international places. He further said that Rs 10 crore would be spent on the development of Shaheedi Smarak Hussainiwala and Saragarhi Gurudwara as hubs of tourism with facilities such as Laser Show, Restaurant, Landscaping and public conveniences at Shaheedi Smarak.

He also said that the proposals sent by Ferozepur Urban MLA Parminder Singh Pinki to his department would be met with approval leading to their completion. Earlier, Sidhu visited Harike wetland and said that this spot has the untapped yet immense potential to come up as the world class tourism centre and this would become reality soon. He also said that motorboat, boats, restaurants and tent hotels would be provided to the tourists coming here after consulting the Forest and the Irrigation departments.

The Minister further said that the whole area would be transformed into an environment friendly zone to attract tourists. He further added that floating restaurants would also come up at the Sirhind Feeder and Ferozepur which originate from the harike headworks. He said that his sole motive is to bring Punjab on International Tourism Map which would lead to the generation of the employment avenues in the state thus accelerating the development of the state on parameters of progress.

He also made it clear that the government has ample funds at its disposal regarding this and the master plan of the said places would be readied in the next 3-4 months and work initiated.

(editor@dailyworld.in)