Rs 141 cr tourism project proposed for Mysore region
Janardhana Reddy assures allocation in next budget
Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure Development Janardhana Reddy on Monday said the tourism department has proposed Rs 141.62 crore project to improve tourism infrastructure and add more facilities across eight districts in Mysore region.
At a news conference on the sidelines of a regional-level review meet of tourism projects, Reddy said the Chief Minister had assured to enhance the budgetary allocation for the tourism department to Rs 500 crore in the next budget. The proposal for Mysore region would be approved in the next budget irrespective of whether budgetary allocation is enhanced or not. The eight districts - Mysore, Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Madikeri, Chikkamagalur, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada submitted about 81 projects under the proposal.
He said the department had approved Rs 105 crore worth projects and released Rs 43 crore so far. “We want to draw world’s attention towards tourism sector. As the department has dearth of implementing officers, the Deputy Commissioners of all the eight districts are asked to coordinate in effective utilisation of the allocation,” he said.
The department has chalked out a mega tourism project for Hampi at an investment of Rs 80 crore on the basis of centre-state sharing. The Centre has already released Rs 35 crore. The department had called for tenders amounting to Rs 66 crore for the works, he said, adding that the State has also submitted Rs 49.95 crore project for Kemmanagundi and Bababudangiri to the Planning Commission, seeking for a special development grant, the Minister disclosed.
He said the Rs 4.32 crore works on establishing a five star hotel near the Yagachi falls area at Belur was near completion. While, the state would soon start the Jungle Camp and Trail Development programme. The programme will cover 10,000 school children in the State of which 2500 will be drawn from Mysore region. The general students will have to share 50 per cent of the jungle tour cost and the department would fund the rest.
While, the Government would fund 80 per cent of the tour cost for SC/ST students, he said.
Deputy Commissioners from eight districts and tourism department officials took part in the review meeting. Regional Commissioner Jayanthi, Tourism secretary Jyothiramalingam, Director Vishwanath Reddy and others were present.
