ITDC and Hindustan Salts Ltd. join hands

for Development of Tourism

India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), a Government of India undertaking under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism will sign an MoU with Hindustan Salts Ltd (HSL) and its subsidiary Sambhar Salts Ltd. (SSL), a Government of India undertaking under the administrative control of the Department of Heavy Industry. The objective of the association is the proposed development of tourist centres in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.

The MoU will be signed today by Dr. Lalit K. Panwar, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, ITDC and Shri R.K. Tandon, Chairman & Managing Director, Hindustan Salts Ltd.

To explore the possibilities of developing its large land bank at different locations, HSL with its subsidiary SSL is joining hands with ITDC to undertake the development of regions of Khara Ghoda (Gujarat), Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan) and Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) as tourist centres. These regions provide tremendous potential for development of ‘Heritage and Theme Based Tourism’. This association will witness ITDC leveraging its expertise and technical support for development of infrastructure for promotion of tourism.

In the initial phase, a detailed Master Plan will be prepared entailing details of the different projects post which individual projects would be undertaken jointly either through formation of a joint venture company/companies/Public Private Partnership or involvement of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC). As part of the understanding, HSL/SSL will provide “Rights to use of land” for development and implementation of tourism related projects and ITDC will provide expertise and technical support for development of centres for tourist interest.

The two Organizations also agree that special emphasis would be given to the areas of Tourism in preparation of the Master Plan/Sub Plans viz. Eco tourism; Cultural Tourism; Adventure Tourism; Salt Lake Tourism and Execution; Special Tourist Trolley Train around Salt Ponds and Salt Lake Area of Sambhar on the lines of Heritage Toy Trains as operating in Shimla and Darjeeling; Health Tourism; Heritage Tourism which may include converting one of the old residential colony of pre-independence time made during British regime at Sambhar Salt Works as “Heritage Village”; Religious Tourism to centuries old Temples; Boating on Canal Tourism on proposed artificial canal along approx. 110 kms boundary of Sambhar Salts Ltd; Rural Tourism and Environmental Landscaping and Commercial exploitable fruit plantation around Salt Ponds, Salt Lake and proposed Canal approx 110 kms boundary of Sambhar Salts Ltd and proposed tourist centres.

A Task Force of two members of HSL/SSL and two members of ITDC would be formed post signing of the MoU to further coordinate the activity and provide required support/arrangements for preparation of the   Master Plan and Sub Plans.

Besides the Tourism projects as emerging from the Master Plan the following would also be considered and their implementation will be give priority for development:

Ø      Centre for Skill Development for youth under the ‘Hunar Se Rozgar’  scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.

Ø      Camp/Tented Accommodation for Tourism around Salt Ponds, proposed Artificial Canal and Salt Lake Area.

Ø      A centre for “Eco Tourism and Research” as per “Ramsar Conventions”

Ø      Development of Salt Heritage Museum.

The MoU will initially be valid for a period of 3 years from the date of signing, extendable further for a period as would be decided by the Management of both the Organizations.