Guwahati, Jun 3 : Sometimes even a controversy can do a world of good.
At least, this holds true for Lampi (known as Langpih in Meghalaya) in Kamrup district, which is set to become the next big thing on Assam’s tourism map.
Even before the unknown and unexplored Lampi hit the headlines for being the bone of contention between Meghalaya and Assam, the Kamrup district administration shot a video of its hills and waterfalls for chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who promptly wanted it developed as a eco-tourism site.Sources in the chief minister’s office said deputy commissioner R.C. Jain, credited by most for giving a new lease of life to the moribund Assam State Transport Corporation during his stint as its managing director, has been entrusted with the job of executing Project Lampi.
Of course, there will be help from the minister in-charge of the district, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who laid the foundation stone of a health centre there and the AGP MLA Jyoti Prasad Das who feels that tourists no longer need to think about Shimla or Shillong once Lampi was ready.
Lampi is a planner and architect’s paradise. Being largely unexplored and sparsely populated, it provides an open field for development.
And once it’s connected by road, it will be a two-hour drive from Guwahati.
But what about the dispute over Lampi, with Meghalaya accusing Assam of trying to occupy its little hill destination?
“Well, the local populace, which is a mix of Khasis, Garos, Rabhas and Nepalis, earn their livelihood by cultivating orange, ginger and maize, and desperately want development and are apparently backing the Kamrup administration,” a source said.
“Only the Khasis feel that the area is in West Khasi Hills. The area has been under the Kamrup administration and we are happy with the development plans,” Lampi gaonburah Chakrabahadur Chetri said.
Giving a sneak-peek into the “beautiful” work in progress, Jain today said the whole idea was to develop Lampi into a popular hill station of Assam.
“Its tourism potential is immense. Along with Kamakhya, Umananda, Hajo and Sandubi, Lampi will also be an added attraction for tourists. To retain its basic character, we issued a circular while carving out the 28-km road from the hills from Kamptoli to Upper Lampi in December-January that there would be no land settlement or allotment. We would like to develop the area in a such a way that its basic character can be retained,” Jain said.
It may take a little longer for Lampi to be transformed into a tourist hotspot, but the controversy around it has already made it a household name in both Meghalaya and Assam.
Telegraph India
At least, this holds true for Lampi (known as Langpih in Meghalaya) in Kamrup district, which is set to become the next big thing on Assam’s tourism map.
Even before the unknown and unexplored Lampi hit the headlines for being the bone of contention between Meghalaya and Assam, the Kamrup district administration shot a video of its hills and waterfalls for chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who promptly wanted it developed as a eco-tourism site.Sources in the chief minister’s office said deputy commissioner R.C. Jain, credited by most for giving a new lease of life to the moribund Assam State Transport Corporation during his stint as its managing director, has been entrusted with the job of executing Project Lampi.
Of course, there will be help from the minister in-charge of the district, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who laid the foundation stone of a health centre there and the AGP MLA Jyoti Prasad Das who feels that tourists no longer need to think about Shimla or Shillong once Lampi was ready.
Lampi is a planner and architect’s paradise. Being largely unexplored and sparsely populated, it provides an open field for development.
And once it’s connected by road, it will be a two-hour drive from Guwahati.
But what about the dispute over Lampi, with Meghalaya accusing Assam of trying to occupy its little hill destination?
“Well, the local populace, which is a mix of Khasis, Garos, Rabhas and Nepalis, earn their livelihood by cultivating orange, ginger and maize, and desperately want development and are apparently backing the Kamrup administration,” a source said.
“Only the Khasis feel that the area is in West Khasi Hills. The area has been under the Kamrup administration and we are happy with the development plans,” Lampi gaonburah Chakrabahadur Chetri said.
Giving a sneak-peek into the “beautiful” work in progress, Jain today said the whole idea was to develop Lampi into a popular hill station of Assam.
“Its tourism potential is immense. Along with Kamakhya, Umananda, Hajo and Sandubi, Lampi will also be an added attraction for tourists. To retain its basic character, we issued a circular while carving out the 28-km road from the hills from Kamptoli to Upper Lampi in December-January that there would be no land settlement or allotment. We would like to develop the area in a such a way that its basic character can be retained,” Jain said.
It may take a little longer for Lampi to be transformed into a tourist hotspot, but the controversy around it has already made it a household name in both Meghalaya and Assam.
Telegraph India
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