Chinese territorial claims and repeated incursions apart, India has thrown open its most sensitive state, Arunachal Pradesh, for the world to see.
NEW DELHI: Chinese territorial claims and repeated incursions apart, India has thrown open its most sensitive state, Arunachal Pradesh, for the world to see.
The impregnable forests and unbridgeable rivers of Arunachal will now be accessible to the foreign tourist with the government relaxing the protected area regime (Par) to promote tourism in the land of the rising sun.
Par, under the foreigners (protected areas) order, 1958, prevents foreigners from even stepping in most areas of the state.
Certain tourist circuits are open to foreigners for 10 days at a time but not without a restricted area permit (Rap), applications for which need to be submitted at least six weeks in advance. Domestic tourists have to obtain inner line permits.
However, for the benefit of the tourism industry, the government has begun opening the
state to foreigners in the last few years.
Earlier, foreign tourists could not go beyond the Tawang circuit that includes Buddhist monasteries and the Monpa habitat, Subansiri and Siang river valleys and areas around Itanagar. Also, they were allowed only in large groups of not less than five persons and only for a maximum 10 days. Only married couples were allowed.
Now, however, even a group of two or more can get to stay for a maximum 30 days. Two foreign tourists, even if they are not a married couple, and foreigners married to Indians native of Arunachal can also visit on tourist visas.
The circuits where foreigners are being allowed are the areas along Mechuka, an extended Pasighat-Jenging-Yiungkiong up to Tuting 3, Daporijo-Nacho via Taliha and Sayum and the Ziro-Palin-Nyapin-Sangram-Kaloriang and Doimukh-Sagalee-Pakke Kasang-Seppa routes.
Tourism ministry officials said the relaxation was likely to increase the foreign tourist inflow. The ministry is also promoting the “unexplored paradise of India” through its Incredible India! campaign and its missions abroad. The officials said this will also help Arunachal come out of isolation and socio-economic backwardness and help generate revenue and promote development.
To promote development in the state, the Centre has built roads and installed lights in areas along the China border.
p_vineeta@dnaindia.net
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