Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 16: Centre has sanctioned 14 tourism mega projects of Rs 73.50 crore for the State during last 3 months of current fiscal, for creation of tourist related infrastructure, development of potential spots and conservation of heritage sites in the State, revealed Tourism and Culture Minister, Nawang Rigzin Jora while reviewing the pace of progress of different tourism related projects being executed under Central Financial Assistance (CFA) in the State.
The Minister said that 9 tourism projects of Rs 38.35 crore which includes conservation of heritage corridor of Jamia Masjid Srinagar, construction of TRC at Yousmarg, budgeted accommodation at Aharbal, construction of Kashmir Haat at Chinar Bagh Srinagar, development of picnic spot at Pahalgam, Sarbal Lake at Verinag are being carried out in Kashmir valley.
Mr. Jora said that 4 tourism projects have been sanctioned for Jammu Division by the Centre, which includes Rs 16.92 crore for conservation of Mubarak Mandi heritage palace. He said a whooping amount of Rs. 13.78 crore would be also incurred on development of tourist infrastructure at Mansar, Sanasar and Natha top, besides development of Darhal as Base Camp and Shikar Marg as gate way of tourist destination of Pir Panjal. He said the centre has also sanctioned a project of Rs 4.45 crore for development of tourist infrastructure in Kargil.
The Minister directed the concerned authorities for ensuring timely completion of formalities for taking up of these projects well in time.
Commissioner Secretary Tourism and Culture, Atul Dulloo, Managing Director JKTDC, Satish Nehru, Director Tourism Kashmir Talat Parvaiz, Director Tourism Jammu, R.S.Mehta, Joint Director Planning Tourism Department, Parvaiz Handoo, Chief Executive Officers of Development Authorities besides other senior officers and engineers of concerned departments attended the meeting.
It was informed that out of 147 tourism projects the work on about 60 projects have been completed while as work on remaining projects is almost near completion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister underscored the need for timely completion of all ongoing tourism projects. He stressed on concerned authorities to submit utilization certificates of each project well in time for release of second instalment of funds from the Centre. He directed the concerned authorities that tourism projects hampering for want of forest NOCs should be handed over to Forest Department for execution. He also instructed that only those projects to be taken where State land is available, as there is no component of land cost in funding of central tourism projects.
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