TURA : Meghalaya Home Minister, James Pangsang K Sangma on Wednesday inaugurated the two-day Simsang Festival 2018, with the theme, “Peace for Prosperity” at Rongrenggre Higher Secondary School Playground in Williamnagar.
Inaugurating the festival, James lauded the organizers for the meaningful Simsang Festival, to preserve the Simsang river and its catchment areas and also to showcase the local agri-horti products, local talents, etc. and informed that the Government is very keen to protect the catchment areas in the state.
With such kind of festivals in the state, the tourism sector is being made to boost up and tourism is one such sector which can solve the problem of unemployment, he said. He informed that in order to develop tourism infrastructure, the Government made Rs 100 crores budgetary allocation to tourism out of which, Rs 22 crores had been allocated to East Garo Hills alone. He also sought the support and cooperation of the people in implementing the projects.
The guest of honour Government Chief Whip and Williamnagar MLA, Marcuise N Marak, while giving examples of tourist inflow to Sohra, sought the cooperation of the people in bringing tourists to the region to witness such kind of festivals. He also informed that the Government had sanctioned funds for construction of eco-camps in East Garo Hills for facilitating the tourists.
Others who spoke on the occasion included former Songsak MLA and co-chairman of MSPB, Nihim D Shira and GHADC Chairman, Denang T Sangma.