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The Center has sanctioned Rs 150-crore to the state for the development of tourism sector under various progammes including infrastructure development for destination circuits.
The money includes Rs 50-crore for the Nabakalebara festival of Lord Jagannath at Puri, Rs 30 crore for Bhubaneswar-Puri-Chilka circuit. "The state had asked for Rs 52-crore from the Center for the Nabakalebara festival. We have sanctioned Rs 50-crore," Union minister of state for tourism, Mahesh Sharma told reporters here. State's tourism potential can be developed under the coastal circuit development programme as the state has 480-km long coastline, he said. "The state has lot of potential for the growth of tourism. The Central government will definitely help the state tap this potential, including that of Ganjam district," he said. Union minister was here to launch the three social security schemes-Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Surakshya Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana.
Besides other dignitaries, managing director cum chief executive officer of Vijaya Bank, Kishore Kumar Sansi were presented at a meeting to mark the launch the schemes.
During his visit to the town, several organizations in the district urged the Union minister to include the famous tourist places in the district under different tourism schemes of the Central government such as heritage tourism circuit, pilgrimage rejuvenation and spiritual augmentation drive (Prasad), infrastructure development for destination circuit and coastal circuit and textile tourism.
The tourist places which can be refurbished under these in these schemes include, Tara Tarini, Sidha Bhairabi, Mahuri Kalau- all Shakti Shrines, Gopalpur-on Sea, Tampara, Barkula, Potagarh, Jaugarh, Tapatapani, Mahendragiri, Budhakhola and Berhampur etc.
All Odisha Devanga Federation, the organizations of the weavers' community, urged the Union minister to promote Berhampur town as a textile zone in the tourism progrmme.
The fine-weaving silk sarees of Berhampur are acclaimed world-wide, earning it the tag of Silk City. Berhampuri patta and joda have been registered under the Geographical Indication (GI) by the Central government. 'Not only the tourism sector, but also weavers in the area will be benefitted economically when Berhampur is promoted as a textile tourism destination", said T.Gopi, president of federation.
