New Delhi: Sikkim CM PS Golay on Sunday urged the Centre to release the remaining funds under the Product Infrastructure Development for Destinations and Circuits (PIDDC) scheme for tourism infrastructure development in the Himalaya state.
PIDDC was one of the major tourism infrastructure development schemes of the Union ministry of tourism prior to the launch of Swadesh Darshan Schemes in 2014-15.
“The discontinuation of the scheme has led to 51 projects hanging in the balance. These projects are lying in different stages of progress,” said Golay during his meeting with Union minister of tourism, culture and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) G Kishan Reddy in New Delhi on Sunday.
As the state is at the threshold of reopening the tourism sector adhering to the SOP amid COVID-19, the chief minister said that the delay would not only impede the pace and progress of tourism development programme buts will also have a long-term impact on the state.
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“The state has maintained an excellent track record in filling up the tourism infrastructure gap at many destinations through Swadesh Darshan Schemes earlier sanctioned by the Centre. Sikkim also achieved the top position in implementing the scheme,” said Golay.
“One of the priority projects of the state government under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme-III is pending with the ministry of tourism for the past two years. I request an intervention on this matter,” the chief minister added.
