Hyderabad: Telangana deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Friday asked officials to explore ways of improving revenues through tourism, in sectors such as eco-tourism, health and temple tourism.Chairing the cabinet sub-committee meeting on resource mobilisation in the Secretariat on Friday, which was attended by ministers N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao, the deputy CM said tourism should be given priority by effectively utilising the govt lands and properties located in tourist destinations to generate revenue for the state govt.“States such as Goa and Kerala are effectively leveraging tourism, which not only creates employment opportunities there but also contributes significantly to GDP growth. Telangana should also adopt similar methods,” he said.Vikramarka suggested preparing plans to promote helicopter tourism during weekends, such as for tours between Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar.“Many tourism assets across the state are not being fully utilised. We can develop them under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and create wealth. Infrastructure and development at tourist destinations play a key role in revenue generation. Tourism is crucial for achieving long-term economic growth targets,” he said.Meanwhile, officials informed the committee that the number of registrations in the state has increased significantly. They stated that the revision of land values under the slab-based system across the state is yielding positive results.The sub-committee also reviewed measures required to enhance revenue collections in the transport department. As part of the discussion, the committee noted that a court judgment had been delivered in favour of Kerala, upholding the state’s authority regarding taxation of Bharat Series (BH) series registrations. It discussed legal and policy-related issues concerning BH registrations. The deputy CM directed officials to organise a meeting of transport ministers from southern states to discuss taxation issues related to BH Series vehicles.The Cabinet sub-committee reviewed the desilting works being carried out at Lower Manair, Upper Manair, Medigadda, and other locations. It expressed the view that permissions should be granted to crusher units that comply with all legal regulations. The committee observed that Robo Sand is available at a lower cost compared to river sand. Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy advised officials to study the feasibility of exporting sand to neighbouring states.
