Parliamentary secretary of Tourism, C. Apok Jamir on Friday informed that Kisama, the venue for the Hornbill Festival this year will be declared as a ‘No Plastic Zone’ for a sustainable environment and support for rural livelihood.
He said this while speaking to media persons here along with officials of Tourism department and Music Task Force. Apok also informed that the attendances of Dr. Mahesh Sharma (MoS of Tourism) and Smriti Irani (Minister of Human Resource Development) as guests of honour at the inaugural function has been confirmed.
He also informed that union minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj had expressed her inability to attend the inaugural function as chief guest fue to “pressing demand” and in view of the ongoing winter session of parliament.French and British delegations were expected to witness the festival, he said.
As part of the new initiative, Apok said 16 gates will be erected from Dimapur Airport till Kisama Naga Heritage village, each representing major tribes of Nagaland in alphabetical order, with a distance of approximately 3-4 kms between them (gates).
To make the Hornbill Festival “as traditional as possible”, he said the department would put all out efforts, despite resource constraints and “no concrete budget”.
Apok said the Tourism department as the nodal agency for Hornbill, was working in tandem with departments like MTF, Horticulture, PHE, power etc.
Asked about the erection of a monument at Kisama, at an approximate cost of Rs. 95 lakh despite fund constraints, Apok said the emphasis was on the symbolism of the monument, amount of workmanship and the expertise involved, which had to be taken into consideration. He also expressed regret the Great Hornbill Adventure Trail (GHAT) could not be included in this year’s hornbill festival due to “technical glitches”.
Secretary tourism, Angau I Thou, IAS said that tourism department aimed to make hornbill festival in a positive way so that the world would know Nagaland through the festival. She also informed that tourism department would maintain a dress code which is to wear a traditional piece to emphasize on tradition; not imposed on other departments. Appraising the potentialities of tourism department, Apok said that tourism department could generate revenues, as the state does not have industry for generation of revenue.
Further stressing on the need to create awareness especially in rural areas on hospitability towards tourists and communization of rural tourism, which would pose as a medium of livelihood.
On the Hornbill International Music Festival, Director Music Task Force, Gugs Chishi informed that a band from Australia and 25 bands screened through live auditions from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore would be competing at the rock contest. He said that judges for the rock contest would be from major players in music industry from Nagaland, Mtv, Rolling Stone, Blue Frog etc.
The Hornbill International Music Festival would also have performances by Halloween, ABBA Tribute Band, Europe Show, the Hornbill International Rock Contest, Electronic Dance Music, country and blues by favorite veterans, Naga musicians and choirs. He also informed that entry to performances on December 1-7 would be with entry fees while the December 8-10 shows would be free entry.
Chishi also informed that an Airtel tower would be set up at the concert venue for better connectivity and to provide wifi services to mediapersons.
RELATED POSTS
View all
