Maharastra appoints Shivaji's heir as brand ambassador

In a move aimed at countering the silent morchas being taken out by the Maratha community across the state, Maharashtra government today appointed Rajya Sabha MP and heir of warrior King Chattrapati Shivaji, Sambhajiraje Bhosale, as its Tourism Brand Ambassador.

    

Rawal, while speaking to reporters also announced the setting up of a heritage committee which will make recommendations on the conservation of heritage forts and promoting luxury tourism in the state.

 

"Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje Bhosale will be a member of the committee which will submit its report to the government in four months time," Rawal said.

    

Accepting the government's proposal to be its Tourism Ambassador, Bhosale said the heritage policy would seek to make efforts to convey the rich historical legacy to the world.

    

"Just like Rajasthan has marketed its historical forts as tourist destinations, the state too intends to showcase the same through the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC)," he said.

    

However, Bhosale refused to comment on the silent morchas being taken out by the Maratha community.

    

Meanwhile, Rawal lamented at the encroachment of slums in Mahim fort (in Mumbai) and a school being run in a fort in Malegaon in Nashik district.

    

"There is an urgent need for control over the heritage forts. The government intends to set up a Directorate of Tourism headed by a director," he said.

    

Rawal announced that the state will celebrate 2017 as the year of "Visit Maharashtra" and said it has so many heritage forts steeped in rich history, more than what Rajasthan has.

    

He further said funds will be earmarked in District Planning and Development Committees (DPDCs) of the district for the promotion of tourism.

 

Besides this, each district will have its district tourism plan which will promote religious, tourist, heritage forts, wildlife sanctuaries in the plan, Rawal added.