KL Desk
Jammu
The center has sanctioned 19 new tourist projects involving a cost of Rs 97.36 crore to the state for development and up gradation 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 on Friday.
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 installment. 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 any lapses in this regard would be viewed seriously for stringent action against negligent officials.
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 sanctioned under circuit/destination 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 rest 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 the necessary development work 19 villages have been completed and the development of rest villages are near completion. It was told that so far Rs. 15.61 crore has been released by the centre for the purpose, of which, Rs. 14.80 crore utilized so far.
