Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 28: The Center has sanctioned 19 new tourist projects involving a cost of Rs 97.36 crore to the State for development and upgradation of tourist related infrastructure in the State.
This was stated by Tourism and Culture Minister, Nawang Rigzin Jora while reviewing physical and financial status of the under execution centrally sponsored tourism projects here today.
Minister of State for Tourism, Culture and Home, Nasir Aslam Wani was also present in the meeting.
The Minister said that Rs 19.18 crore have been released by the Center for taking up of these projects as first instalment. He said that concerned executing agencies have been directed to tender out the works under these projects for early execution to ensure time bound completion.
While reviewing the status of ongoing Central Projects, the Minister directed concerned authorities to submit utilization certificates of each project well in time to maintain flow of funds from the Center. He warned that any lapses in this regard would be viewed seriously for stringent action against negligent officials.
Mr. Jora instructed concerned higher ups for monitoring all the mega projects under execution in the State. He said that his office should get the status of physical and financial progress of these projects on monthly basis.
The Minister received project wise appraisal of the under execution projects. He was apprised that during last four years, 79 projects have been sanctioned under Circuit/Destin-ation Development Scheme by Union Ministry of Tourism at the total cost of Rs 366.33 crore and so far funds to the tune of Rs 124.32 crore were released by the Center to carry out these projects. He was informed that out of these projects 60 projects have been completed during the period and work on other projects is at different stages.
The meeting also reviewed pace of progress of tourist villages being developed in the State. It was informed that the development of 29 villages have been taken up in the State at the cost of Rs. 18.97 crore, out of which 19 have been completed and the development of rest of the villages in near completion.
Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Atul Dullo, Managing Director JKTDC, Satish Nehru, Executive Director Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, Soujanya Sharma, Director Tourism Kashmir, Talat Parvaiz, Director Tourism Jammu, R S Mehta, Chief Executive Officers of Tourism Development Authorities, besides senior officers and Engineers of concerned departments attended the meeting.
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