Funds no bar for tourism projects: Kannanthanam

Kochi: The central government is ready to provide more funds if tourism projects are expedited. However, tourism projects drag in Kerala, said Union minister of state for tourism Alphons Kannanthanam, who was speaking after the review of central government's Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD schemes.

The Centre is looking at the proposal for an effective tourism police in every state, he said.

Rs 350 cr for 4 projects

The Centre had allocated Rs 350 crore for four projects under the Swadesh Darshan and the PRASAD - Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive - schemes. The delay in approvals from the forest department is affecting the Swadesh Darshan projects, he said. The chairman of the Sabarimala high-power committee had promised to approach the high court to get approval for the project, he said.

The Rs 90 crore Gavi-Vagamon-Thekkadi tourism project under the Swadesh Darshan scheme will be completed by September 30. Of the Rs 99.99 crore allotted for the Sabarimala-Erumeli-Pamba-Sannidhanam religious circuit, tenders have been floated for projects worth Rs 64 crore.

Though Rs 5.94 crore was allotted as part of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple-Aranmula-Sabarimala Swadesh Darshan scheme, the Aranmula project is yet to begin.

The Swadesh Darshan scheme aims at the integrated development of tourist circuits around specific themes.

Pilgrim project

The Centre had granted Rs 46 crore for the development of Guruvayoor under the PRASAD scheme. The work on multi-level car parking and tourist amenity centre is yet to start. Some progress has been achieved in installing CCTV cameras. Twenty per cent of the work on tourist facilitation centre has been over.

The state government had sought the inclusion of Malayatoor church and Cheraman Juma Masjid in the Prasad scheme. Since the state government's request for levelling the hills that are part of the Malayatoor church and paving it with concrete was not acceptable, Kerala has been asked to submit a revised proposal, he said.

Threefold hike

The ministry is taking bids to increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals and income it threefold within three years. Roadshows and other tourism campaigns have been planned in China by the end of August, he added.