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For hardworking,dedicated and sincere P.D.Vaghela, Managing Director,Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd(TCGL) "tourism has definitely come of age" in the Gujarat state. While, tourists inflow has gone up by 30 per cent in Gujarat, the state Government has allocated an exclusive budget of Rs.100 crore for tourism development in the state,said P.D.Vaghela in an exclusive interview to <whispersinthecorridors.com>

He also disclosed that a slew of incentives for new hotels at select locations had been declared by the Gujarat Government.Besides several policy initiatives had been at the behest of Chief Minister Mr.Narendra Modi,said Vaghela.Event based tourism has been instrumental in promoting tourism and attracting a large number of tourists. Replying to a question TCGL MD ,Vaghela said that a number of innovative steps like improvement in infrastructure at tourist places and involvement of local people ;were taken to give a fillip to tourism in Gujarat.He also said that the TCGL's strategy to promote Gujarat as a leading tourism destination at national and international level,had clicked.

Here goes P.D.Vaghela's interview.

1/What innovations have you done to woo tourists?

The State Government had declared year 2006 as Tourism Year with the following broad objectives:
* To promote development of tourism and in turn put Gujarat as leading tourism destination at national and international level
* To attract domestic and foreign tourists to Gujarat
* To create additional employment opportunities in the State
* To improve tourism infrastructure in the state
* To ensure people's participation and involvement of local bodies in promotion of tourism

2/Can you tell us your three achievements?

Overall Tourists inflow to Gujarat has gone up by 30%.

In the tourism sector, a total of 33 MOUs were signed for 68 projects with expected employment generation of over 40000 direct jobs. The total investment comes to Rs. 10785.50 Crore. In the Aviation sector, MOUs worth Rs 10000 crore signed.

Won the National Tourism Award in 2007 for the Best Tourism Friendly Monument-Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeolgical Park.Won the National Tourism Award in 2007 for Excellence in Publications (collateral)

3/Are you in a position to say that tourism in Gujarat has come of age? Please explain how.

Yes, definitely 100 crores budget has been allocated exclusively for tourism development in the state.Tourists inflow has increased manifold in the State. Events like Navratri Festival and International Kite Festival are being organized on a global scale every year in the State. Gujarat is being recognized all over the country, having won many national level awards this year. Investments in the tourism sector have been pouring in enormous numbers, through the MOU route.

4/What policy initiatives have been taken by your state?

Following policy initiatives have been taken:

Tourism Policy 2003-2010 is in force for promotion of tourism in the state and with overall impressive growth of Gujarat economy, policy initiative in social sector and excellent infrastructure, tourism in Gujarat is expected to grow considerably. Recently, Government has signed 38 MoUs worth Rs. 20,785 crores have been signed.This includes not only tourism related projects but also ventures pertaining to aviation and pilgrimage tourism.

a) Gujarat Tourism Council headed by Chief Minister Mr.Narendra Modi has been set up.

b) Hotel investment incentive scheme has been declared to boost total investment in related destinations.

c) Three policies namely Heritage Hotels Policy, Eco Tourism Policy and Medical Tourism Policy have been declared during the year.

d) Entertainment tax has been reduced from 50% to 25%.

e) Luxury Tax has been significantly reduced along with restructuring in tax slabs & enhanced exemption limit to Rs. 500/-.

f) The Value Added Tax(VAT) on Food & Beverages(F & B)has been reduced from 12.5% to 4%.

Marketing of Gujarat Tourism has been started on consistent basis nationally and internationally. Event based tourism has been instrumental in promoting tourism and attracting large number of tourists. These policy initiatives will certainly help in promoting Gujarat tourism at a faster rate.

5/Which are the key areas where Gujarat scores over other states?

Gujarat has 5000 year old civilization and excellent monuments. Apart from this the state has excellent infrastructure in terms of roads, electricity and air connectivity. It is one of the safest states in India. Gujarat is blessed with a variety of tourism products like wildlife,desert,sea beaches,hill stations,etc. It has unique wildlife like the Asiatic Lion,Wild Ass,BlackBuck and a variety of bird life.

6/What steps have you mooted for promoting budget hotels/tourists?

Gujarat Government has declared incentive scheme for hotels this year. Hotels with a minimum 20 rooms being setup at selected locations in Gujarat will be eligible for five year tax holiday on electricity duty, luxury tax and exemption of payment of stamp duty on land.

Ashok Jha to be ED of ADB ?

Grapevine has it that Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs Ashok Kumar Jha is being appointed Executive Director of the ADB in Manila.1969 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer, Jha, is retiring by this month end. Tenure of present ED Ashok Saikia is coming to an end in July.

Manjula Subramaniam empanelled

Dr Manula Subramaniam is reported to have been empanelled to the rank of Secretary in the Government of India during the last review meeting. She is 1972 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre.

Vatsa is JS Urban Development

Dr Rakesh Kumar Vatsa is the new Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development. He is 1986 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre.
(We said this on January 16 and again on March 8)

Jagat to retire in June

Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission Gurubachan Jagat is retiring on June 31. He is retired 1966 batch IAS officer.

Das is DG CISF

Ranjit Kumar Das has taken over as DG of the CISF. He is 1970 batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Renuka Choudhury & controversies

Indian Minister for Women & Children Development Renuka Choudhury seems to have developed the art to court controversies. A recent survey conducted by her Ministry has found that 53 per cent of children between the age group of Five & 12 years are sexually abused in India. The survey was conducted by an NGO called "Prayas" in association with the UNICEF & Save the Children. Worst still the survey adds 65 per cent of school going children in the 21st century face corporal punishment in India.

Formal orders of Shashi Tripathi soon

Formal order of the appointment of 1971 batch IFS officer Ms Shashi Tripathi for the post of Member UPSC is expected to the issued this week.

IPS is a divided house in Jharkhand

It is widely believed that IPS is divided in two groups in Jharkhand. Is it not a warning signal for the IPS officers ?.

Forests Ministry asked to furnish names

The Cabinet Secretary is reported to have asked the forest ministry to furnish the names of the 10 most senior IFS officials for the post of Director General of Forests and Special Secretary.

M.S. Swaminathan & Dr. (Mrs.) Kapila Vatsyayan,in RS

Prof. M.S. Swaminathan and Dr. (Mrs.) Kapila Vatsyayan have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Amod Kanth likely to be DGP Arunachal Pradesh

Amod Kanth is likely to be once again tipped as the Director General of Police(DGP) in Arunachal Pradesh,after Dorji Khandu becoming he Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.Kanth is on deputation to the Delhi Jal Board.At present acting DGP of Arunachal Pradesh is B.K.Sinha who is basically and IPS officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police(IGP).

Gill unlikely to get extension

Advisor Police in Chhattisgarh K P S Gill is unlikely to get extension .One year contract of Gill is to expire this month.

Arunachal Pradesh CS to continue

Arunchal Pradesh Chief secretary Tabom Bam will not be changed in the wake of change of guards in the state.

Bhupal Singh is OSD to MP Governor

Bhupal Singh has been appointed OSD to Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar.1988 batch retired IAS officer Singh was Secretary to the Governor till March 31.

More troubles for Gegong Apang

More troubles seem to be in store for Gegong Apang -the outgoing Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.As the grapevine has it he may face probe & action in alleged scams relating to a lottery,release of funds under the Public distribution system & hasty award of Hydro Power projects to M/S.Mountain Falls and other private companies .

Brijesh Mishra joins ORF

Brajesh Mishra former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and NSA has joined the board of trustees of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).

Authorities in a bind over the Mumbai Airport episode

A number of Indian Government agencies have been breaking their heads to figure out that as to how a case relating to landing of US Ambassador David Mulford and his wife could be registered. It may be stated that Mulford who enjoys diplomatic immunity had landed in a Beech craft King Air C-12, evening from Jamnagar on Tuesday. Agencies which are facing a piquant situation are :Director General Civil Aviation(DGCA),Ministry of External Affairs(MEA),PMO and Central Industrial Security Force(CISF).They face such a situation because the special flight carrying David Mulford and his wife had landed on Mumbai Airport's runway at 4.30 pm which could have endangered lives of 100s of passengers. Pilot of the special flight has given his statement to the DGCA.

Justice Sethana resigns

Justice B J Sethana of Gujarat High Court who was transferred to Sikkim is reported to have resigned from service.

1984 batch IPS promoted in Bihar

Five 1984 batch IPS officers have been promoted to the rank of IG in Bihar.Ram Pravesh Singh will be IG Police Modernisation.Ganesh Prasad Yadav has been moved to Cooperation.Umesh Kumar Singh will now be IG Vigilance.Ravindra Kumar Singh has been appointed IG Security.On return from CBI Rajesh Ranjan has been posted as IG CID.

A new twist to row between judiciary & Exceutive
The ongoing row between judiciary and executive has taken a new turn.It is reported that Registrar of the Supreme Court was asked by the RTI Commission to appear before it.

1991 batch IPS promoted in Bihar

Eleven 1991 batch IPS officers have been promoted to the rank of DIG in Bihar.

Jagdhari is no more
Retired 1962 batch IRS (Income-Tax) officer V K Jagdhari has passed away in Delhi.He was 69.He had served in Bhopal,Delhi and Chandigarh.

Re-union of 1981 batch IRS

Re-union of 1981 batch IRS officer is taking place in Nagpur today.

FORUM

Hope concerned authorities will take note

There is also practice of transferring officers considered inconvenient to North East in certain government departments. There is no mechanism in place to ensure that officers facing and involved in criminal cases/major penalty proceedings are not given sensitive and important posts. Absence of any transfer policy in defence estates department can cause havoc not only for officers individually but also in the functioning of important department like defence estates. In such a scenario, erection of cell phone towers without permission of MOD can be easily understood. Hope concerned authorities will take note .

Jawed Chaudhary

This should be fact in Rajasthan

Apropos whisper about list of trusted officials of the BJP regime it must be said that bureaucrats who know the fine (or not so fine) art of cozying up to the political masters are a class by themselves and they succeed in fooling successive regimes that they are close to them to the exclusion of all others. With every regime change they successfully realign themselves to serve the new masters. It is not decent to name names but no one should be surprised if the ones making the list are also the ones who are closest to the present regime.
N N Ojha

Your coverage of CSS officers unsatisfactory

While it is good that you have begun reporting about Pakistan also, your coverage of the plight of CSS officers is totally unsatisfactory. Should you not first look after your own home before trying to highlight from across the border. Recently the government has done away with in situ promotion of CSS officers as joint secretaries at the fag end of their careers i.e. for the last two years if they are empanelled but fail to get picked up. You have not reported this big decision which seems to be aimed at precluding officers from this service from becoming JSs.
S Bhushan

Apex Court must issue notices to BCCI and UOI

The reference of the CJI should be taken as a PIL and the apex court must issue notices to the BCCI and the UOI through Sports Ministry. The pertinent question is why should a private body run an organisation and its team represent the nation? There must be some accountability on the top bosses too. A person who has represented the Country in tests and ODIs (minimum numbers be fixed) be allowed to contest for election as BCCI president. So should be the conditions for its board members as also that of state associations! Apply such stringent norms to revive Indian Hockey too!
N Prasad

Aaj Ki Aawaz

There is no doubt in Mulayam Raaj goondaism has flourished,
By Mulayam Sarkaar it has been carefully and lovingly nourished!!!

Goondas say that as long as Mulayam is CM they have nothing to fear,
They say that to SP goondas are very dear!!!

The who's who of Goondas in UP are with SP... inside and outside support,
They boast that to them SP karti hai report!!!

Fatwa specialist Haji Yakub Quereshi is with Muslims SP's trump card or ace,
He's SP's Muslim face!!!

He tried to issue a fatwa in favor of SP but nahi kiya kaam,
And now Haji Fatwa is his new naam!!!

Many Muslims in UP take Haji Fatwa to be a joke,
Demand that on his trying to bamboozle them there should be a rokk (ban)!!!

Haji was elated on Bangladesh 's victory over India and South Africa ….in fact boasted,
With tea and jam toast the victories he toasted!!!

In the UP elections both BJP and Congress are going to do better than expected,
Bettere than what is being projected!!

When the Air India plane lying with its nose down on the runway pics came on the Telly,
Some said that Amrinder has landed in Delhi !!!

Because Amrinder flies First Class and so the plane could have become front heavy,
And for his weight the front tyres must have paid the levy!!!

But they were wrong Amrinder flew in by Jet and was given a warm welcome,
After all most Congressis facing his problems were asking him to come!!!

London se aaya Amrinder …. Amrinder ko salaam karro,
Now it'll be raath ko khao piyo dinn ko chuppo aur darro!!!

And Amrinder says if charges are proved politics ko karre ga quit,
Fact is if charges are proved he'll be politically finished …out of the Party he'll be hit!!

Very soon cat will be out of the bag..... why did Amrinder take his Mom with hm,
What will be revelaed will indeed be very grim!!!

Not only slip disc BJP karre gi survive,
But on the hullabaloo on slip disc BJP will thrive!!!

What about when Muslims are appeased,
Don't you feel all other's are literally teased???

BJP's Ravi Prasad reminds Congress of its rants and ravings against the Sikh community,
When to damn Sikhs Congress made it a duty!!!

Like they say people in glass houses should not throw stones,
What is allowed are only moans and groans!!

So the Secular Parties can moan and groan on the contents of the CD to their vote banks,
All that this is ....... Vote Bank pranks!!!

And Naveen Chawla cannot be objective,
When it comes to BJP Chawla has and will be subjective!!!

In fact he should himself excuse himself from this matter,
Within EC too this is the chatter!!!

Because within EC they know Chawla's anti BJP stance,
And they also know towards which Party Chawla always has a kind glance!!!

Farmers feel Deshumkh's the worst CM Maharashtra has had,
Their view on him is really bad!!!

High Command seems to be caught between the devil and Arabian sea,
And is not hearing the Farmer's plea!!!

Seems the Selectors are going to give the budhaas (oldies) in the team a shock,
All the Budhas for the performance are in the dock!!

By the way how about BCCI taking the WC Team selectors to task,
Kaise ki aisi third class team select BCCI should ask????

Why has no action been taken against the Colonel …..ranks ko karro iss ko demote,
Though some say he was being controlled by a remote!!!

Remote was in Pawar and his coterie's hand,
In actuality in team selection Pawar and his coterie ne bajaaya India ka band!!!

Authority on Indian Flag Jindal has cleared Tendulkar of insulting the Flag,
And has said that he's a patriot as he carries a flag in his kit bag!!!

But Tendulkar has had his innings and now on his own should retire,
Lest he'd like to wait till Board karre ussko fire!!!

In the coming six months there is chance the Sensex may go down 10 to 15 percent,
And in investment portfolios make a huge dent!!

Like they say India's an accident waiting to happen,
And very soon FII interest in India will slacken!!

FII money will move back to Japan and US of A…… go home,
No longer in BRIC economies will this money roam!!!

So my friends for next six months become bears,
And after that you can become bulls after seeing how the market fares!!!

In choppy times make sure your boat survives......mool is not wiped out,
With mool or intial investment intact you can then invest in the next bull run bout!!!

Bharat Kumar

Aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

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CORPORATE

Shakil Ahmad is Tea Board official in London

Shakil Ahmad has been posted in London to look after the India's Tea Board. He is 1995 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

War for supremacy in Oil sector hots

War for supremacy in Oil sector has hot up as Delhi through the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA)has intervened to participate in oil exploration and refinery business in Azerbaijan. S. Butola Managing Director ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL) has reportedly been asked to aggressively pursue opportunities in Azerbaijan. This is being done so that China Oil Company is not able to completely corner the market in world's biggest oil deposit country of Azerbaijan.

Backdoor diplomacy in Jet -Sahara deal

As the grapevine has it owing to backdoor diplomacy by Jet Airways Directors:Sam Pitroda,I.M.Qadri & Jawed Akhtar led the Sahara group to climb down.Original price asked by Sahara was Rs.400 crore more than what price was okayed on Tuesday.

Doha declaration on WTO negated!

The free trade agreement between South Korea and the US Government has negated the Doha declaration on the WTO.The pact on free trade was inked between Karan Bhatia Deputy Representative of South korea and American authorities.It is worth mentioning that India had spearheaded a campaign for the Doha declaration to protect interests of people in agriculture & industry sector of India.

MECON bags contracts for 2 X 500 MW power plant in TN

The Doranda(Ranchi) based Metallurgical and Engineering Consultants{MECON) has bagged contracts for 2 x 500 MW Power Plant in Tamil Nadu, being promoted jointly by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. MECON of which Chairman-cum- Managing Director is D. Rath will provide detailed engineering and consultancy from concept to commissioning for two units of 500 MW each to be set up at Tuticorin.
MECON has signed a cooperation agreement with internationally renowned consultancy organisation, M/s AF - Enprima of Finland for joint working in power sector consultancy in India.

Mad rush for dress making of Aishwarya Rai

There is a mad rush in Mumbai to dress up Abhishek Bachchan & Aishwarya Rai for their wedding. As the grapevine has it from Bollywood, a top Milan based designer has approached agent of Aishwarya with an offer of $Two million as price, if she decides to wear his bridal ware.

New Chairman of Nasscom

N. Lakshmi Narayanan has been appointed the new Chairman of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) Ganesh Natarajan will be its new Vice-Chairman.

HPCL ED gets award

Executive Director of Visakh Refinery of HPCL A.S. Rao has bagged the `Excellence Award' of the Delhi Telugu Academy .

Valluripalli is Chairman of YI

Arjun Valluripalli CEO of the Lanco Global Systems Ltd has been appointed Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry's Young Indians (Yi).

Chowdhary gets new job in Nokia

Ashish Chowdhary has been appointed by Nokia Siemens Network as head of its operations in India and Nepal sub-region.