tourismNew Delhi, Nov 28 (PTI) The environment ministry was opento reviewing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines, oneof its top officials said today.
Arun Kumar Mehta, Additional Secretary, Ministry ofEnvironment, Forests and Climate Change, said they were alsoconsidering allowing "sustainable" and "responsible" tourismactivities in the natural heritage zones, many of which werein the coastal regions.
"The ministry is open to reviewing the CRZ guidelines. Weare also considering (allowing) responsible and sustainableadventure and eco-tourism activities in the natural heritagezones of the country," a CII statement quoted him as saying.
Mehta was speaking at the "National Seminar on AdventureTourism" here.
Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma had, earlier this month,told PTI that the tourism ministry was working with theenvironment ministry to find ways to promote sustainabletourism, without losing the focus on conservation.
Satyajeet Rajan, Director General, Ministry of Tourism,today said adventure tourism was a strong focus area of theministry, while suggesting that various others ministries suchas the environment and forests, shipping, home, defence aswell as the state tourism boards should come together to makeit a success.
The environment ministry is in the process of revampingIndia's coastal regulation norms, a move that may lead toopportunities for the government to earn more revenues alongthe country's 7,500-km-long coastline. PTI ASGRC.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.