The Awards will be given to recognize best practices like innovative approach, achievement of planned objectives, the adoption of sustainability principles in design, planning, and operations, ability to attract private investments in peripheral development, efficient project monitoring, and efforts undertaken to ensure optimal operations and maintenance, etc.
The government has approved 76 projects worth over Rs 5500 crore across 31 Indian states and union territories under this scheme. At more than 500 tourist destinations, tourism-related has been developed.
It has been decided by the Ministry to invite entries under various categories such as Best Log Hut Facility, Best Tourist Interpretation Centre, Best Cafeteria, Best MICE Facility, Best Sound and Light Show, Best Craft Haat/ Souvenir Shop facility, and Best Waterfront Development (Beach/ River/ Lake, etc.).
Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Parshottam Rupala outlined that the Sagar Parikrama initiative will be aimed at understanding challenges, experiences and aspirations of fishermen community, look at the scope of seafood exports, as well as to popularise schemes that the fishing community in coastal areas can avail of.
The department of fisheries of the Ministry of Fisheries, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRY and National Fisheries Development Board along with Gujarat governments department of fisheries, INDIAN COAST GUARD, Fishery Survey of India, Gujarat Maritime Board and fishermen representatives will be organising Sagar Parikrama, with the voyage being flagged off from Mandvi on March 5 and concluding at Porbandar on March 6, via Okha in Devbhoomi Dwarka.
While the programme is planned to be held in states that have a coastline, Gujarat will mark the first state as part of this initiative.