Hyderabad: The Cabinet sub-committee on resource mobilisation on Friday directed officials to explore new avenues for enhancing revenues, including the possibility of exporting sand to neighbouring states and introducing weekend helicopter tourism services at major tourist destinations as well as regularisation of industrial land parcels.
Addressing officials, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who chairs the committee that also comprises ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao, stressed that the government must focus on sectors capable of generating sustained revenue. He underscored the need to harness Telangana’s tourism potential and directed officials to effectively utilise government land and properties situated in tourist destinations to create revenue streams for the state exchequer.
Bhatti noted that tourism in Goa and Kerala had emerged as a major contributor to employment generation and economic growth. He instructed officials to develop Telangana’s tourism sector on similar lines and adopt an aggressive approach towards promoting temple tourism, eco-tourism and health tourism.
Bhatti also suggested preparing plans for helicopter tourism during weekends and called for the development of tourism projects in Srisailam and the backwaters of Nagarjunasagar. He observed that several tourism assets across the state remain underutilised and directed officials to develop them through the public-private partnership (PPP) model to generate wealth and improve infrastructure.
The committee reviewed revenue mobilisation opportunities through the regularisation of industrial land parcels under the industries department as part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen state finances.
The committee also reviewed desilting works underway at Lower Manair, Upper Manair, Medigadda and other locations. It took an in-principle decision to grant permissions to crusher units that comply with all statutory and legal requirements. During the discussions, the committee noted that Robo Sand was available at a lower cost than river sand. The panel advised officials to examine the feasibility of exporting sand to neighbouring states as an additional revenue-generating measure.
The panel also reviewed measures to improve revenue collections in the transport department. The committee discussed legal and policy issues relating to Bharat (BH) series vehicle registrations and noted a court ruling in favour of Kerala that upheld the state’s authority in matters related to taxation of BH series vehicles. Bhatti directed officials to convene a meeting of Transport Ministers from southern states to deliberate on taxation issues concerning BH series registrations.
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