MP raises questions in House on Kongthong tourism development
Ministry says no word from state on the issue
Shillong, Mar 31: The state government has not approached the Tourism Ministry for development schemes for Kongthong, a remote village in East Khasi Hills where every person has a tune to his or her name, but the revamped Swadesh Darshan central scheme will be a hope for tourism in the hamlet.
Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy, in his reply to a question raised by MP Rakesh Sinha in the Rajya Sabha, said the ministry had earlier sanctioned two projects under the same scheme.
“The Ministry of Tourism has now revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme in order to develop sustainable and responsible destinations with tourist & destination approach,” he added.
Sinha asked the minister whether the Centre would take steps to consolidate the tourist character of Kongthong and make the place tourist friendly.
He added that it is the only whistling village in the country and has potential to become an important tourist place.
Kongthong is among the villages which practise the tradition of attaching a tune to each name. Wahkhen, a village in Pynursla and home of national award-winning musician Komik Khongjirem, also practises a similar tradition and has a musical history of its own.
Sinha also raised other tourism-related questions in the House.
