The Haryana government has approved the proposal of the tourism department to implement 11 projects under public-private partnership (PPP).
In a meeting presided by chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the state Cabinet has approved these projects in pursuance of the Haryana Tourism Policy, 2008, and on the recommendations of the Tourism Development Council, which has been constituted to formulate policies and strategies for the development of tourism in Haryana.
Of the 11 new projects, seven projects will be implemented on long-term lease basis for a period of 33 years extendable by another 33 years and four will be implemented on short-term lease basis for a period of 11 years extendable by another 11 years. This has been done to promote Haryana as a key tourist destination so that the industry becomes a major engine of economic growth and employment generation.
Under this, new projects including shopping malls, multiplexes, amusement theme parks, health spas and adventure camping sites at Karna Lake, Pipli, Surajkund, Rohtak, Damdama, Hodal, Dharuhera, Kalesar, Mallah and Madhogarh will be developed. The Haryana Tourism Policy provides a comprehensive lease policy for developing tourism and hotel projects under public-private partnership.
The tourism and hotel projects have been declared an industry under the Industrial Policy, 2005, and the new tourism & hotel projects, in 88 industrially backward blocks and in seven blocks that have been declared backward from tourism point of view, will get incentives on par with other industries.
These incentives include financial assistance as interest-free loans to be quantified at the rate of 50% of tax paid under the Haryana Value Added Tax Act, 2003, exemption from Local Area Development Tax for a period of five years and exemption from electricity duty for 5 years.