Haryana gets Rs 18 cr from Centre to boost tourism

Chandigarh, Jan 8: The Central government has sanctioned Rs 18.64 crore so far for developmental work in tourism and eco-tourism in Haryana for 2007-08, Haryana Tourism and Forests Minister Kiran Choudhry said here today.

The major projects sanctioned by the Union government include development of eco-tourism in Morni-Pinjore hills and Sultanpur National Park amounting to Rs 3.29 crore, development of Dharuhera and Hodal as tourist destinations amounting to Rs 3.60 crore and Rs 3.65 crore respectively and also for the development of Morni and Tikker Taal as a tourist destination amounting to Rs 4.74 crore.

The Union government had allocated the total amount of Rs 8 crore for the development of Morni, Tikkar Taal and Kalesar, she added.

She said that construction of six Km long trekking path from Koi village to highest point of the Pinjore range, which is known as tope Banasar, was proposed.

Ms Choudhry said that the Union government had sanctioned an amount of Rs 22.54 crore for 2006-07 to develop the Panipat-Kurukshetra-Pinjore circuit, Badkhal Lake and Surajkund as tourist destination.

Work on these projects was in progress and with the completion of these projects tourism activities in the state would increase manifold, she added.

UNI