Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 23: To develop picturesque hill resort of Mantalai as International Yoga Centre and to improve the tourist infrastructural facilities for the tourist resorts of Sudhmahadev and Patnitop, the Centre has approved an ambitious project of Rs 99 crore for it.
The project has been given formal approval in a high level Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) meeting in Union Capital recently which was held under the chairmanship of Union Tourism Secretary, Vinod Zutshi, sources said.
Sources said the State Government in the meeting was represented by Secretary Tourism, Farooq Ahmed Shah and other senior officers.
The funds have been sanctioned under development package of Prime Minister’s Plan under which Rs 500 crore were granted to J&K State for this year for integrated development of tourism in the State.
Under this package, Rs 99 crore were sanctioned for Mantalai, Sudhmahadev and Patnitop circuit for giving impetus for promotion of tourism in the area.
Out of Rs 99 crore sanctioned for three tourist places in the area, Rs 83.73 crore have been granted for development of Mantalai as an International Yoga Centre alone, sources said, adding the rest amount will be spent for the development of Patnitop and Sudhmahadev tourist resorts.
Sources said the work on the new project will start within one month as the DPRs for these projects have already been framed and they were also discussed in CSMC meeting on the basis of which the projects were sanctioned. The work will be completed in a stipulated time frame, sources added.
Sources, while giving details said, out of Rs 83.70 crore for International Yoga Centre at Mantalai, Rs 10 crore have been earmarked for Yoga Centre with associated infrastructure and equipment, Rs 8.5 crore for wellness and Ayurveda Complex, Rs 7 crore for Tourist Facilitation Centre, Rs 2.75 crore of Cafeteria wash rooms, Rs 10.92 crore for accommodation including one and two bed rooms, Rs 1.50 crore for Eco Parking and herbal garden, Rs 2.50 crore for Meditation Enclave, Rs 2 crore for heliport with other facilities, Rs 4.50 crore for MP theatre with green rooms, Rs 5.85 crore for landscaping, walk ways with illumination and children activities zone, Rs 1.20 crore with parking facilities etc, Rs 2.50 crore for fencing with security check posts and Rs 5 crore for Rainwater harvesting fountains, etc.
The area will also be provided Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) for which Rs 5 crore have been earmarked, sources said, adding besides it, Rs 5-0 crore will be spent on water purification plant, solid and organic waste management.
In addition to it, Rs 1.50 crore will be spent on approach road and ramps while Rs 1.20 will be spent on maintenance of equipment and Rs 1.35 crore on solar power, sources said.
Giving further details sources said that Rs 3.50 crore will be spent on illumination of entire area with solar lighting, etc and Rs 0.60 crore will be spent for other ancillary works.
Sources said for bettering facilities for visiting tourists at Sudhmahadev Rs 2 crore were sanctioned while Rs 11.50 crore were sanctioned for construction of Tourist Conve-ntion Centre at Patnitop.
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