Israel seeks to partner in Ganga Plan - Easy visa for tourists
Special standards of hygiene will be set and implemented in all the Ghats of Ganga as the PMO attaches cleanliness and sanitation with tourism business for the first time in the economic planning of India. This will directly boost the Cleaning Industry in India besides attracting foreign companies to look at opportunities in India and also promote FDI (Foreign Direct Investment).
Since Gangotri, Haridwar, Allahabad, Varanasi and other pilgrimages along the course of Ganga are going to be developed into major tourist attractions, the hospitality, infrastructure, road development, power industry and transport sectors will get a tremendous boost. This in turn will add impetus to the growth of the cleaning industry.
The Prime Minister has instructed his “Mini Cabinet” to ensure that the world-class riverfronts are developed in the first phase in at least five cities: Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata. The riverfronts will be developed in the lines of River Thames and Seine.
Ministers speak on Ganga Plan
i. Nitin Gadkari said the stretch between Gangotri and Kolkata will be developed as a National Waterway by the shipping ministry
ii. Some portions of the riverbank will be developed for tourism and pilgrimage
iii. Gadkari said neat and clean bathing ghats for pilgrims are going to be developed
iv. Prakash Javadekar said that the PM’s Ganga Plan is an “inter-ministerial issue and all the five ministers will sit together and devise the plan”
v. Venkaiah Naidu announced total “cleanliness drive” in all religious cities” starting with Varanasi
vi. Shripad Yesso Naik said Varanasi will be one of the cleanest tourist city in India
vii. Uma Bharati announced she will leave no stone unturned to ensure that sanitation and cleanliness is done in the entire Ganga River
Israel seeks to partner in Ganga Plan
In a major development, Israel has expressed its desire to be a part of Modi’s dream project of restoring to river Ganga to its ancient glory by totally cleansing it.
Alon Ushpiz, the Ambassador of Israel in India, has said that his country will be more than happy to cooperate with any Indian entity, government or private, in the task of cleaning the Ganga. Israel has gained scientific expertise in water cleaning and water management.
Having very effective water recycling technology, Israel also wants to participate in recycling and reusing polluted waters of Ganga.
- Easy visa for tourists
Unhygienic and dirty streets create stress among the tourists. Since tourism enhances the economic development and promotes different sectors of the economy, the PMO has specially laid stress on total cleanliness of Ganga and the tourist places.
The Modi’s Government at the Centre is going to change the visa norms from October 1 this year to attract the foreign tourists. Under this, they can pick up visas on arrival. This will help tourists to have shorter breaks in India.