Covid disrupts tourism sites’ development plan in Prayagraj
Plan was to beautify them to attract visitors and generate jobs for locals
Covid pandemic has disrupted ambitious development plan of select tourist sites in Prayagraj district. All 12 MLAs of the district were asked to choose a religious spot each in their constituencies that could be developed as tourist spots. The plan was to beautify them to attract visitors and generate employment for locals, said officials.
A survey was carried out and proposals were accepted from the MLAs. The plan with the proposed budget was also forwarded to the state government for approval and sanction of funds. However, the projects could not take off due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, they added.
Before the pandemic, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had himself asked officials to develop promising tourism spots in all assembly constituencies of the state.. The plan was to develop important religious, spiritual, ancient, cultural and natural sites of every district in a sustainable manner and then undertake promotion of these places.
The spots were to be identified and selected with the help of MLAs. They were also asked to make the proposals and the estimated budget for the development of the spots. The state government planned to implement this scheme through the funds received from the tourism department, MLA fund and CSR fund from various corporate houses. Under the scheme, works like boundary wall, land keeping, dharamshala construction, setting up of benches, signage, proper drinking water, store room, locker, shoe house, platforms, railing, parking inside the campus and lighting were to be done. In Prayagraj, deputy director, tourism Dinesh Kumar also asked the MLAs of all 12 assembly constituencies to select a tourist or religious spot and submit a proposal for its development.The MLAs identified the sites and submitted a plan for their development. The budget for different sites were also prepared ranging between Rs 20 crore and Rs 80 crore for each site. “After receiving the proposal, the tourism department carried out a survey of the spots and forwarded the estimated budget for development of the spots which was approved by the government. However, before the project could be started, coronavirus spread followed by the lockdown disrupted all plans, said deputy director, tourism, Dinesh Kumar.
He said ‘Paryatan Samvardhan Yojna’ was launched on the instructions of the chief minister. The work on the project will start soon after getting the nod from the government, he added.