ITDC, Hindustan Salts ink pact for developing tourist centres

As per the ITDC and Hindustan Salts Ltd pact, HSL will provide the "rights to use of land" for tourism related projects, while ITDC will provide expertise and technical support for running the tourist centres.

"To explore the possibilities of developing its large land bank at different locations, HSL, with its subsidiary SSL (Sambhar Salts Ltd), is joining hands with ITDC to undertake the development of regions of Khara Ghoda in Gujarat, Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan and Mandi in Himachal Pradesh," HSL said.

When asked as to how the two partners will share investments and profits, ITDC Vice Chairman and Manging Director Lalit K Panwar said they would be shared equally.

The MoU will be valid for 3 years, but could be extended if needed.

The idea is to develop Heritage and theme based tourism as these regions have a tremendous potential, ITDC said.

In the first phase Sambhar lake area will be developed, Panwar said.

This would include converting old pre-independence residential colony into a 'Heritage Village', promoting religious tourism, lake tourism, boating in canal, developing camp and tented accommodation around salt ponds and development of salt heritage museum, he added.