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| Centre peeved over slow progress of Bhitarkanika tourism project |
| BS Reporter / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar Jul 16, 2010, 00:48 IST |
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Three destination and four circuit development projects to be taken up in 2010-11
Peeved over the slow pace of implementation of the eco-tourism project at Bhitarkanika in Kendrapara district, the Union ministry of tourism has urged the Orissa government to complete the project by December 2010.
This project to be developed under the 'Destination Development Scheme' of the Centre is being taken up at a cost of Rs 4.4 crore and the amount was released by the Centre in 2006-07. Of the released amount, Rs 2.14 crore has been spent on the project.
“At the last prioritization meeting held on April 9 this year under the chairmanship of the Union tourism secretary, it was pointed out that the development of eco-tourism project at Bhitarkanika has shown little progress. The state government pleaded that some of the components of the project are in the forest area and hence, the Centre should allow the state government to complete the project by December this year. The state government's request was accepted with the rider that the revised time limit would be strictly adhered to”, said state minister for tourism and culture, Debi Prasad Mishra.
The state government has also sought time from the Centre till June 2010 for completion of the integrated development of Bhubaneswar-Dhauli-Konark tourist circuit and the Centre has agreed to the request.
The Centre had sanctioned Rs 7.97 crore for the project in 2005-06 and so far, Rs 6.18 crore has been spent on it.
During the meeting, the state tourism department informed that a State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC) has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary T K Mishra to oversee the implementation of tourism projects. However, no meeting of SLMC has been held so far.
The state tourism department, Mishra said, is following the 20-year Perspective Plan on Orissa prepared by the Centre. The department also intends to have a separate master plan for tourism.
The Centre has prioritized three tourism projects for Orissa under the 'Destination Development Scheme' for 2010-11. This includes the renovation of Subhas Bose Memorial and Swaraj Ashram at Cuttack at a cost of Rs 5.39 crore, development of a permanent ground for Toshali National Craft Mela at Rs 5 crore and setting up a convention centre at a cost of Rs 5 crore.
Besides, the implementation of four projects will be taken up under the 'Circuit Development Scheme'. These include the development of Angul-Hingula-Ananta Sayan-Mandargiri-Derang circuit at an investment of Rs 7.56 crore, development of Sanghagara-Ghatagaon-Keonjhar-Sitabari-Gundichaghai circuit at Rs 8.99 crore, development of Chandipur-Dogra-Dhamra-Akhandalamani-Bhadrakali-Biranchinarayan at Rs 8.10 crore and development of Bargarh-Papanga-Sambalpur-Ghanteswari-Budharaja-Gudguda-Jharsuguda-Kuiliguhar-Bikramkhoi circuit at an investment of Rs 8.23 crore.
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