The Union Ministry of Tourism has reprimanded the UT Administration for delay in execution of the proposed tourism projects.
Coming down heavily on the UT Administration for its failure to complete tourism projects in time, the Union Ministry of Tourism has directed the officials of the Administration to expedite work on these projects. At the tourism conference held in New Delhi recently, the Union Ministry while reviewing progress of tourism projects in Chandigarh, has also made it clear that pending funds would not be released to the UT Administration till it utilised the funds released so far for various projects. Sadly, half of the tourism projects announced in the past years remain incomplete while some projects are yet to get off the ground in Chandigarh.
Sources in the Administration said that in the recent tourism conference, the Union Ministry of Tourism took Administration to task for its repeated delays in the implementation of proposed tourism projects. The Ministry has clearly stated that no more funds would be released to the Administration till it completely utilised the funds that have been released in the past.” “So far, the Ministry has released an amount of about Rs 12 crore for various tourism projects and an amount of Rs 3 crore more is pending for release to the UT Administration during this year,” informed sources.
Be it the face-lifting of existing tourist spots or the development of new theme parks in the city, the UT Administration is moving at a snail’s pace to actualise these projects. The completion of new theme Garden to be developed in the southern sectors of Chandigarh, is running behind schedule. The Administration is developing theme Gardens, including Garden of Palms in Sector 42 near the New lake, Garden of Conifers in Sector 52, Garden of Spring in Sector 53 and Japanese Garden in Sector 31.
The much-hyped tourism project of Nehru Centre of Performing Arts proposed in Sector 34 and Paryatan Bhawan proposed in Sector 17 is yet to get off the ground. likewise, the proposal to illuminate the entry points to the city on the peripheral routes from Mullapur, Mohali and Panchkula could not be actualised in the last two years. Besides, the much-hyped illumination project of Capitol Complex, Sector 17 Plaza, Rose Garden, Rock Garden has already been scrapped. The face-lifting of city’s main sightseeing areas like Sukhna lake, Rose Garden, Rock Garden and Sector 17 plaza was also proposed to boost tourism in Chandigarh. When contacted, Secretary, Tourism DK Tiwari was unavailable for comments.