Centre to assist Bihar in tapping tourism potential: Kanti

Patna, Jun 25 (UNI) The Centre is committed to extending full financial assistance to the Bihar government for promoting tourism in the state.

After reviewing the progress of the ongoing tourism projects in Bihar, Union Minister of State for Tourism Kanti Singh said the Centre was now releasing more funds for promoting tourism in the state than earlier. During the financial year 2007-08, four tourism projects were approved by the Centre and a fund of Rs 26.06 crores had also been sanctioned,she added.

'' The development of tourist spot around Vishnupad temple in Gaya, establishing a Sanskritik Gram-- Nav Nalanda and setting up of an IHM at Bodh Gaya were among other destinations selected for development of tourism in the state,'' Ms Singh said.

She said the Centre sanctioned the funds on the basis of assessment given by the state government for promoting tourism in selected destinations and added that the responsibility of the execution of such projects lay with the state government.

In some cases the progress was not found to be satisfactory as the state government concerned failed to do the homework before sending the proposals to the Centre, Ms Singh said and pointed out that the state government should acquire land and complete the other required formalities before sending the proposals to the Centre.

Giving the related statistics on financial assistance to the Bihar government for promoting tourism in the state, she said that Rs 19.22 crores for ten projects was sanctioned in 2006-07 while Rs 12.11 crores was sanctioned for nine projects including development of Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda and Integrated development of Kanwari route from Sultanganj to Deoghar.

Ms Singh said Nepura in Nalanda had been selected for promoting rural tourism in Bihar while Manersharif was identified for development of Tourist resort. Valmiki Nagar in West Champaran and Bhimbandh in Munger had been selected for promoting Eco-torism in the state, she added.

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