Jog falls to be dvpd as tourist spot

New Delhi, Mar 21: The Jog falls, second deepest waterfall in the world, has now got the approval of the Ministry of Tourism with'a sanction of Rs 462 lakh for developing it as a tourist destination.

In a letter to AICC General Secretary B K Hariprasad, Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said the project located in the Western Ghats of Shimoga district in Karnataka had already received a sanction of Rs 370 lakh for constructinsteps from top to bottom of the falls and for setting up a restaurant at the bottom.

The project involved improving the Jog Fall area, construction of three Paragolas in the area, tourist shelters, amusement parks, landscaping, illumination and renovation of existing swimming pool besides improving parking area, the letter said.

Other projects that got the Ministry's sanction includded construction of recreation park at Devanoor in Mysore at a cost of Rs 3.32 crore, integrated development of tourism circuit on Mangalore- Ullal, Udupi-Kollur, Honnavar and Murudeshwar beach. It had also sanctioned a golf club at Chikmagalur district to come up at a cost of Rs 120 lakh.

In all, the state had got sanction for projects worth Rs 16.28 crore and the Ministry had released Rs 9.5 crore.

The state government had submitted 15 proposals during the 10th year for 32 tourism infrastructure projects for Rs 49.36 crore, Mrs Soni wrote in her letter.

UNI