DEMAND NO. 41
The Tourism Industry is the fastest growing Industry
worldwide and it will continue to hold a pre-eminent position. Sikkim,
with its spectacular natural beauty and cultural uniqueness seeped
in religious mysticism beckons tourists from the national and international
markets. The fragile environment requires that tourism development
be carefully planned.
For the Tenth Five Year Plan, the Department has
carefully spanned the development of tourism infrastructure in all
the viable areas.
In the first year of the Tenth Five Year Plan 2002-2003,
the Department has projected Rs 586.00 lakhs against the Plan Outlay
of Rs 3570.00 lakhs. However, during the current financial year the
Planning & Development Department has allocated Rs 600.00 lakhs
and Rs 182.50 lakhs in first supplementary demand for grants amounting
to Rs 782.50 lakhs for Tourism department under Demand No 41. The
sectorwise plan allocation is as under:
DIRECTION & ADMINISTRATION Rs
118.00 lakhs
3451-01-01.101-60-44 Head Office Establishment
3451-01-01.101-60-38 Tourism Office Delhi
3452-01-01.101-60-39 Tourism Office Kolkata
3452-01-01.101-60-40 Tourism Office Siliguri
3452-01-01.102-60-44 Head Office Establishment
3452-80-80.001-00.44 Head Office Establishment
With the creation of Engineering Cell in the Department
for speedy implementation of projects for infrastructural development,
the salary component has been proportionately increased to meet the
requirement.
It is also proposed to open an office at Mumbai to
cater to the interested tourists from the western side of the country.
After prolonged deliberations, the NE railway authorities have now
agreed to our opening of one Information Counter at the New Jalpaiguri
Railway Station.
Purchase of vehicles for facilitating supervision
of construction works by the Engineers is also proposed along with
replacement of vehicles already disposed off.
The primary role of the Department in marketing Sikkim
in the National and International markets is of utmost importance.
Participation in Tourism Mart and Festivals for marketing and publicity
of Sikkim is regular feature of the Department for which sufficient
fund to meet up the travel cost for participation has been provided.
Minor Works Rs
10.00 lakhs
3452-01-01.101-60-44-60.44.27 Minor Work
Provision under Minor Works is basically kept for
those projects and schemes which do not qualify for the Central Grants
in terms of the prevalent condition of assistance. Such schemes and
projects are being funded from the State Plan under the minor works
expenditure head. There are number of the other schemes like maintenance
of Tourist View Points, repairing of the existing huts and minor maintenance
of the tourist infrastructure which are being made from this fund.
A provision of Rs 10.00 lakhs is said aside for the said purpose.
Cafeteria at Pakshek in North Sikkim Rs
12.50 lakhs
3452-01-01.196-00.00.31 Grants in Aid
Pakshek is located very close to Mangan, Head quarter
of North Sikkim. To provide basic facilities for the tourists visiting
North Sikkim, the Government has proposed to construct a cafeteria
at Pakshek. A provision of Rs 12.50 lakhs has been kept for the purpose.
This fund will be transferred to Zilla Panchayat, North and the work
shall be taken up through Rural Development Department.
FOOD CRAFT INSTITUTE
Rs
40.00 lakhs
3452-01-01.102-61-61.00.31 Grants in Aid
The Institute of Hotel Management established in 1991
is given grants by the Department for smooth functioning. However,
the grant provided till now is inadequate to meet their demand with
the present provision. It is expected to have the IHM tide over the
difficult situation. This Institute is helping in training boys and
girls to embark on career on their own.
HELICOPTER SERVICE
Rs 10.00 lakhs
3452-01-01.103-62-60-62.60.50 Other Charges
Transport and the communication are the important organs
of the tourism sector particularly to link remote and far-flung areas.
Apart from good road communication network air link is also necessary
to provide quality tourism. The Helicopter Service in Sikkim has been
introduced by the State Government from November 1998. At present
this service is being handled b the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation
(STDC). However, the maintenance of the Helipad is being done by the
Department with the provided fund. This is imparting in keeping with
directions from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
PROMOTION & PUBLICITY:
Adventure
Rs
10.00 lakhs
3452-80-80.104-63-63.00.71 Adventure Tourism
Adventure Tourism being one of the key interest areas
for tourism, the effort of the Department is always to open up new
trekking routes for providing ultimate adventure to the trekkers.
Rs 10.00 lakhs has been provided under the said head of account for
opening of the new trekking trails, recce expenditure repairs and
maintenance of the trekkers huts and other promotional activities
relating to the adventure tourism.
Fairs and Festivals
Rs
19.00 lakhs
3452-80-80-104-63.00.72 Tourist Fairs & Festivals
In our attempt to sell Sikkim in the worldwide market
the Department will be participating in a number of Tourism Marts
and Fairs both in the country and abroad. Some of these Fairs &
Festivals are being organised solely to promote tourism and hence,
the participation of the Department in some of these becomes necessary
as a promotional venture. Further within the State also under this
expenditure head of account some grants are being provided to various
organizations to support their efforts to hold that traditional fairs,
festivals and religious ceremonies. This is basically to encourage
the private sector.
International Flower Show in 2003 March is already
included in the Calendar of Events along with the Flower Show of Gangtok
and Mamchi, Eastern Himalayan Tourist Festival and World Tourism Day
are regular events organized by the Department. For this financial
year Rs 19.00 lakhs has been provided under this head.
Publicity
Rs
70.00 lakhs
3452-80-80-104-63.00.73 Publicity
Publicity is an important function of the Department
of Tourism to disseminate information on the tourism potentials of
the State through various media. Realizing the need to project the
correct image of the State, a need has been felt to produce quality
brochures, release of advertisements to various media and produce
visual media, all of which require professional touch. The Department
proposes to have all these produced through engagement of media consultants
of repute. During the current financial year it is proposed to take
up publication of book on "Image of Sikkim", production
of films, CDs, posters and advertisement in travel trade magazines
for distribution in national and international markets. Rs 70.00 lakhs
has been provided under this head of account in the current financial
year. This has had impact in ITB Berlin and WTM London.
Information
Rs
3.00 lakhs
3452-80-80.104-63-63.00.74 Information
Under Information, the Department, considering the
important role played by the taxi drivers, tour operators and hoteliers,
will organize Orientation Programmes for them Brochures/leaflets for
dissemination of information from Tourist Information Centre, Gangtok,
Kolkata, New Delhi and Siliguri Offices will be printed. This is being
done effectively every year.
Information Management System
Rs
0.50 lakhs
3452-80-80.800-00.00.76 IMS
The Department proposes to purchase one computer in
keeping with the Government policy of updating technology for which
Rs 00.50 lakhs has been provided under the said head of accounts in
the current financial year.
State Share for Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)
Rs 145.00 lakhs
3452-80-80-104-63-63.00.74 State Share for CSS
Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme the Government
of India provides grants to cover the cost of the building for schemes
like wayside amenities, trekkers huts, Tourist Lodges. Yatri Niwas
etc. They provide the financial grant at the rate of 75% as the central
component and remaining 25% of the State Share is to be met from the
Plan Fund under the State Component.
The Department with a view to establish new destinations
in West Sikkim has prepared the project for development of an artificial
lake at Uttarey. The process of acquisition of land for this purpose
has already been completed and the Department has also released part
payment of Rs 49.00 lakhs in the last financial year towards the compensation
for acquiring the land and property assessed against total amount
of Rs 87.00 lakhs as per the compensation statement received from
the District Collectorate, West. The provision has been made to pay
the balance amount in the current financial year from this head of
account.
The Department proposes to establish a full fledged
Institute of Hotel Management. The Government of India has agreed
to provide the fund for construction of the building. As the State
Share the Department is required to provide the land for which there
is a proposal for acquiring of land for the said Institute. An amount
of Rs 50.00 lakhs has been earmarked for the land acquisition at Rumtek
in East Sikkim.
We have provided Rs 56.00 lakhs as a 25% share of
the State Government for matching the grant of the Central Scheme
in the current financial year.
CAPITAL SECTION
Rs 345.00 lakhs
Developmental Project at Samdruptse Rs
90.00 lakhs
5452-01.101-60-60.00.71 Developmental Project at Samdruptse
Many tourists coming to Sikkim have special interests,
one of them being spread of Buddhism in the State. The installation
of Statue of Guru Padmasambhava at the hill top of Samdruptse is sure
to become a pilgrimage centre and attract many tourists. Provision
of Rs 90.00 lakhs in this financial year will go for installation
of statue and completion of the infrastructure. We will definitely
boost the upper income group from South East Asia.
Developmental Project at Chemchey Rs
10.00 lakhs
5452-01-01.101-60-60.00.72 Developmental Project at Chemchey
Scenic location of Chemchey in South District was found
ideal for development of tourist resorts in this place. The Department
of Tourism has already acquired the suitable land. The provision of
Rs 10.00 lakhs is set aside for site development and fencing of the
areas in this financial year.
Construction of Ropeway at Namchi
Rs 15.00 lakhs
5452-01-01.101-60-60.00.77 Construction of Ropeway at Namchi
Ropeway between Namchi to Samdruptse has been proposed
to facilitate tourist in South Sikkim. Feasibility study has already
been done. Provision of Rs 15.00 lakhs has been set aside in this
current financial year which will go for installation of ropeway.
Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) Rs
60.00 lakhs
5452-01-01.190-62-62.00.54 Investment
Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) was established
in 1998 to augment marketing tourism industry. The Department has
been annually releasing fund as part of Equity Share since its inception.
A provision of Rs 60.00 lakhs has been kept for investment in STDC
during this financial year.
DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE
Development of Seven Sisters Waterfalls at Bridge #5 Menrongong,
North Sikkim Rs
20.00 lakhs
54452-01-01.101-60-60.00.78 – Other Developmental Projects
Seven Sisters Waterfalls is situated at Bridge #5
(Menrongong) in North Sikkim. To facilitate the tourists visiting
North Sikkim it is an ideal spot for them to relax and enjoy the scenic
beauty of the place. There are a number of picturesque waterfalls,
that is alluring to the tourists. The Deparmtent has proposed to develop
this spot at an estimated cost of Rs 20.00 lakhs during current financial
year.
Development of Rimbi Rock Garden Rs
30.00 lakhs
5452-01-01.101-60-60.00.79 Development of Rimbi Rock Garden
Rimbi falls on the way to Khecheopalri – Yuksom in
West Sikkim, one of the main areas of trekking, situated at a distance
of 12 kms from Pelling.
Tourists visiting Gangtok also visit Pelling and
adjoining areas because of their own scenic beauty, panoramic view
of Mt Khanchen Dzonga, Rimbi has its own feature, it has three decades
old Hydel Power House situated on the wide spread banks of Rimbi river.
The Government has proposed to develop this place by creating a Rock
Garden along with beautification and basic amenities at an estimated
cost of Rs 30.00 lakhs during current financial year.
Wayside Amenity at Martam, East Sikkim Rs
20.00 lakhs
5452-01-01.101-60.00.80 Construction of Wayside Amenity at
Martam
Martam is situated along the National Highway, about
20 kms from Gangtok. There is a place popularly known as Water Garden,
a relaxing spot for the tourists. For the tourists visiting the spot
the Department has proposed to build a wayside amenity/ Cafeteria.
A provision of Rs 20.00 lakhs has been provided for the said purpose.
Land Compensation for Garbage Disposal Area Rs
100.00 lakhs
5452-01-01.101-60.00.81 Land Compensation for Garbage Disposal
Area
There is a Recreational Park and a Botanical Garden/Ipecac
Garden at Saramsa which is 14 kms away from Gangtok. This is also
one of the tourist spots within the vicinity of the Stte Capital,
Gangtok. Since the available area is inadequate to cater to the every
day increasing visitors to this botanical/ recreational park, the
Department of Tourism now proposes to acquire the land opposite the
garden which is currently being used by the Urban Development &
Housing Department as garbage disposal area and develop it into a
Theme/ Recreational Park. For the acquisition of the land a provision
of Rs 100.00 lakhs has been provided in the current financial year.
ABSTRACT
|
3452 – tourism Revenue Expenditure
|
Rupees in lakhs
|
|
1. Direction & Administration
|
|
|
(a) Salary, Office Expenses, OE,
TE & Other Charges
|
118.00
|
|
(b) Minor Works
|
10.00
|
|
2. Grants-in-Aids to Zilla panchayat,
North Sikkim
|
12.50
|
|
3. Grants-in-Aids to Institute of
Hotel Management
|
40.00
|
|
4. Helicopter Operation
|
10.00
|
|
5. Promotion & Publicity
|
|
|
(a) Adventure Tourism
|
10.00
|
|
(b) Tourist Fairs & Festivals
|
19.00
|
|
(c) Publicity
|
70.00
|
|
(d) Information
|
3.00
|
|
(e) State Share for Centrally Sponsored
Scheme
|
145.00
|
|
(i) Acquisition of the land for Uttarey
Lake in West Sikkim
|
0.39
|
|
(ii) Acquisition of land for IHM
|
0.50
|
|
(iii) State Component for CSS
|
0.56
|
|
TOTAL
|
437.50
|
|
5452 – Tourism Capital Expenditure
|
|
|
1. Development of Samdruptse
|
90.00
|
|
2. Development of Chemchey
|
10.00
|
|
3. Ropeway at Namchi
|
15.00
|
|
4. Share Capital to STDC
|
60.00
|
|
5. Development of Seven Sisters Waterfalls
|
20.00
|
|
6. Development of Rimbi Rock Garden
|
30.00
|
|
7. Wayside Amenity at Martam
|
20.00
|
|
8. Land Compensation for Garbage Disposal
Area
|
100.00
|
|
TOTAL
|
345.00
|
|
Revenue Expenditure
|
437.50
|
|
Capital Expenditure
|
345.00
|
| |
782.50
|
|
