Bhubaneswar: The state government has relaxed restrictions it had imposed on visits by foreigners and researchers to certain areas in the state inhabited and frequented by the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).
The decision came in the form of approval of a decision taken by a committee to allow the visit of foreign tourists and researchers to such areas. The easing of norms was notified Tuesday by Lalit Das, special secretary of the state home department.
The panel earlier advocated exclusion of some villages from visits of foreigners and researchers in some tribal areas while all other areas outside the restricted list were to be kept open to such visits.
The restricted areas include Rampur and Lanjigarh blocks in Kalahandi district, where 13 gram panchayats figure in the restricted list. Other districts where the ban will still prevail include selected villages under Singhpur block in Rayagada district; Komma and Nuapada blocks in Nuapada district; Khairaput, Mathhili and Kundumulugumma blocks in Malkangiri districts.
Some villages under Tumudibanda, Kotagarh and Tumudibandh blocks in Kandhamal district, and Boipariguda, Lamataput and Kundra blocks in Koraput district have also been included under the restricted zone.
Foreign tourists have been asked to follow the advisory brought out by the state tourism department during their visit to the vulnerable areas. Under the norms, they have to intimate the superintendent of police of the district about their schedule, use government-approved guides for their visits, take photographs of people only with their consent, respect local culture and tradition, and camp only in designated areas.
The state tourism department will soon impart training on potential tourist guides identified by the ST and SC development department. The home department has also instructed the two departments concerned to provide relevant information to tourists on the websites of the respective departments. PNN
