Centre sanctions funds for 79 tourism projects in NE

Agartala, Sep 4 (UNI) The Centre has sanctioned more than RS 1000 crore for 79 different tourism projects in NE states during the past three years under 10th Five year plan.

According to latest report of Union Ministry of Tourism, Tripura alone had got a sanction of Rs 291.27 lakh for four projects in 2006-07.

The centre had sanctioned an amount of Rs 716.26 lakh for three projects in 2005-06, while Rs 20 lakh for one project during 2004-05 respectively for the state.

Assam was on the top followed by Arunachal Pradesh during the period to get the funds for various tourism projects.

At the same time, Rs 2,613.38 lakh was sanctioned for nine projects in Mizoram during 2006-07. The Union Ministry had sactioned Rs 2,273.41 lakh for 10 projects during 2005-06 and Rs 1,086.35 lakh for six projects in 2004-05 in that state.

The ministry report also said, Rs 49.80 lakh was sanctioned for two tourism projects in Manipur for the year 2005-06, for which a sum of Rs 39.84 lakh was released while Rs 939.35 lakh for nine projects for Manipur was sanctioned during 2006-07 and Rs 649.48 lakh was released from the Ministry.

Rs 2,453.39 lakh was sanctioned for nine projects in 2006-07, Rs 2,140 lakh for 10 projects in 2005-06 and Rs 986.03 lakh for eight projects in the year 2004-05 for Assam, while Arunachal Pradesh got Rs 1,887.80 lakh for 12 projects in 2006-07, Rs 2,240.16 lakh for 10 projects in 2005-06 and Rs 1,325.50 lakh for nine projects in 2004-05.

For Meghalaya, a sum of Rs 1,435.29 lakh was sanctioned in 2006-07, Rs 5 lakhs for one project in 2005-06 and Rs 963.30 lakh for two projects during 2004-05. Nagaland got a sanction of Rs 2,340.32 lakh for eight projects in 2006-07, Rs 2,528.97 lakh for nine projects in 2005-06 and Rs 2,250.69 lakh for seven tourism projects in 2004-05 respectively.

The ministry had sanctioned an amount of Rs 2,609.42 lakh for 13 projects for Sikkim in 2006-07, Rs 2,844.56 lakh for 14 projects in 2005-06 and Rs 660.81 lakh for eight projects in 2004-05, the ministry report added.

UNI