Ziro Valley has huge potential in tourism sector, says Arunachal Pradesh CM Khandu

ITANAGAR: Terming the tourism industry as the growth engine for economic development of the state, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said Wednesday that Ziro valley in Lower Subansiri district has huge potential in the tourism industry provided the god-gifted inherent natural charm of the valley is maintained in its pristine glory.

Khandu, who was on his way to Daporijo in Upper Subansiri district, had stopped over at Ziro to inaugurate the Tana Agyang View Point implemented by MNREGA job card holders of Habung village, officials from the district informed. Stating that a road map for tourism in Ziro Valley was the need of the hour for holistic growth of the tourism industry, which would not only benefit the people of Ziro but also the entire state, the chief minister urged the people to maintain the pristine beauty of the valley.

"The wet rice paddy field along with fish cultivation is the main charm of Ziro Valley, which is unique and nowhere practiced in other parts of the state. Tourists come to see this unique feature, and hence the people of Ziro should refrain from constructing dwelling houses and other commercial structures at the paddy fields", he said. Appreciating the pluralistic Apatani society for being the torch bearer in the state, showcasing support, cooperation, and a hand-holding system that had paved the way for producing so many bureaucrats and technocrats, Khandu said that Ziro Valley had a very limited amount of land but was blessed with god-gifted natural beauty, which had tagged it as one of the most tourist-centric places of the state.

Khandu urged the Apatani civil societies, the Tani Supung Dukung (a civil society), NGO's, the Apatani Youth Association, panchayat leaders, and the district administration to pool their resources and devise a solution to the rapidly increasing construction of structures at the wet rice paddy fields in the valley. Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner Bamin Nime had also repeatedly urged on various public platforms to halt the increasing trend of filling up the wet rice paddy fields with soil for the purpose of constructing dwelling and commercial houses.

If this trend is not corrected timely and if the wet rice paddy fields of Ziro Valley disappear over time, the much-hyped tourism potential of the valley would be lost forever and Ziro Valley would remain just an ordinary town like others, the chief minister said.

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