'Rs 31 crore to develop Nandi hills, Kemmannugundi'

Government will promote them as attractive tourist destinations

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy, Yeddyurappa said that Tourism Department will provide facilities like parking lot, a garden, playground, post office, drinking water supply and guest houses for tourists at both places as part of the development project. A sum of Rs 31 crore will be spent for this purpose. It is for the first time after many days the Chief Minister chaired a departmental meeting to discuss about development projects in Vidhana Soudha.

He and his Cabinet colleagues have been busy with political developments in the State of late.  Yeddyurappa said plans are on the cards to provide battery operated vehicles for tourists to go around Kemmangundi.

Link road

A 16-km concrete, link road will be developed to Kemmannugundi. The officers have been directed to complete the work before the onset of south west monsoon next year, he added.

The Finance Department has already released Rs 9.3 crore to take up the project. Short-term tenders will be called to implement the project.

The aim is to make Kemmannugundi a model hill station in the country. The Tourism Department has been directed to prepare a district-wise action plan for tourism development. A sum of Rs 500 crore will be allocated for the department in the next year (2011-12) budget, he stated.