Karwar: District In-charge Minister R V Deshpande stated that there are many opportunities in the country to develop tourism, But, the tourist places across the country are facing lack of publicity.
He noted this while speaking at inauguration ceremony of ‘Rock Garden’, jointly organised by State Tourism Department and District Administration at Rabindranath Tagore Beach in Karwar on Sunday.
Minister Deshpande regretted that the State tourism has not been developed as expected.
It has maximum employment opportunity for the unemployed educated youths of this region.
Hence, the Central government has been appealed to make changes in the Coastal Zone Regulation Act, to facilitate developmental works, he added.
Karwar, is popularly known as ‘Kashmir of Karnataka’, which consists hillocks, rivers and sea in its surrounding. “As a minister, I have made honest efforts to develop tourism in this region.
As a result, the district has emerged as one of the most attractive tourist place in the State for attracting huge number of visitors,” he said.
Praising the efforts of artistes behind the successful construction of rock garden, Minister said that the life style of tribal communities like Kunabi, Gonda, Halakki Okkaliga’s were beautifully carved in the garden.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Satish Sail said, such kind of activities will support the development of tourism in the district and directed the district administration officials to take up measures for the proper management of rock garden.
Deputy Commissioner S S Nakul said, the statues and huts constructed in the garden will represent the art and culture of district in ten clusters. Apart from this, the district administration aims to develop more and more tourist places in the district, to make visitors to stay in the district at least for a day, he added.
As part of this, construction works have been taken up in a six acre land, for which the tourism department has released grants of Rs one
crore and Rs 1.65 crore has been released under corporate social responsibility, he informed.
Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner H Prasanna, Artistes Mohan Sona and Sudesh were felicitated on the occasion, for playing vital role in the construction of rock garden.
Title deeds to tribes
Along with this, Minister Deshpnade distributed title deeds of Kumri land to the beneficiaries of Kunabi community.
Zilla Panchayat President Jayashree Moger, City Municipal Council President Ganpati Naik, Fisheries Development Corporation President Rajendra Naik, Superintendent of Police Vinayak Patil, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer L Chandrashekhar Nayak were present on the occasion.