Says will develop Indus River, promote adventure sports to boost tourism
STATE TIMES NEWS
DIU: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, during his visit to the Union Territory of Daman and Diu & Dadra and Nagar Haveli, emphasized that tourism is a key driver of economic growth, employment generation, and cultural preservation.
Accompanied by First Lady Bindu Gupta, Advisor to the Administrator Amit Singla, IAS, and senior officials, the LG visited several sites including the Aviary Bird Sanctuary, appreciating Daman and Diu’s eco-tourism efforts, local empowerment initiatives, and sustainable livelihood programmes.
Praising the tourism-friendly model adopted in Daman and Diu, LG Gupta said that similar development strategies will be implemented in Ladakh. “Ladakh holds immense potential in adventure and nature-based tourism. We plan to develop the Indus River as a hub of cultural, adventure, and water-based tourism,” he announced.
He also highlighted the administration’s focus on bridging the gap between citizens and governance. “Development must be inclusive. Our goal is to ensure last-mile delivery of government schemes and active citizen participation,” he said.
The LG visited the Daman Aviary Sanctuary, where he inspected the Walk-In Aviary developed at a cost of Rs 16.96 crore. Spanning over 23,400 sq. meters, it includes 70 holding pens, 91 poles, two bridges, and a waterfall, making it a major eco-tourism attraction.
He also interacted with women street vendors at the Daman seafront, supported under the Sylvian Didi initiative. Under DAY-NULM and PM SVANidhi schemes, women vendors have been trained to prepare healthy food and provided with ergonomic carts, uniforms, and collateral-free loans, promoting self-reliance and livelihood generation.
Lauding the implementation of Central Government schemes, LG Gupta said, “This reflects the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for holistic development across Union Territories.”
He stressed that Ladakh will replicate these successful models, focusing on healthcare, education, youth empowerment, and eco-tourism to drive sustainable, inclusive growth.