ONGC to keep six tourist sites clean including the Taj Mahal

02 September, 2012

Under the Union Government's 'Clean India' campaign, the ONGC has expressed its willingness to keep six tourist sites clean including the Taj Mahal. The assignment involves the cleaning work, maintenance, upkeep and refurbishment for the identified tourist sites.

ACCORDING TO the Ministry of Tourism, the OMGC-managed six sites are going to be the Taj Mahal, Khajuraho Temples, Konark Temple, Ajanta-Ellora Caves, Bodhgaya and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal.

Keeping in view the fact that lack of cleanliness at tourist destinations has negatively impacted tourism industry, the Tourism Ministry has launched the Clean India campaign stressing the reasonable level of cleanliness and hygiene practices at tourist sites through involvement of private and public sector actors.

Tourism Ministry has aimed at 12 per cent growth rate of foreign and domestic tourist visits during the 12th Five-Year Plan period. It is believed that tourism industry is becoming an important factor in economic development and employment generation.

"The success of the Clean India campaign is crucial to achieve the targeted growth in tourists arrivals during the 12th Plan," said Tourism Minister Subodhkant Sahai at the Clean India workshop recently.

The campaign was launched in December last year in order to provide a hygienic environment in and around tourist destinations across the country to attract more visitors.