The Hindu : Karnataka / Hassan News : Thrust on infrastructure in tourist destinations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 27, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Hassan

Thrust on infrastructure in tourist destinations

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN, SEPT. 26. The Department of Tourism is all set to celebrate "World Tourism Day" on Monday.

The department has organised a public speaking competition on "the importance of tourism in social development" for college students at Hotel Hassan Ashok.

The department has also put up banners at several parts of the district emphasizing the need to protect monuments and develop tourism.

Improving infrastructure

Speaking to presspersons here on Saturday, the Assistant Director of Tourism, Aadilakshmi, said that the department had been making efforts to harness the tourism potential in the district.

She also said that the department was keen on improving the infrastructure at several tourist destinations, especially Belur, Halebeed, and Shravanabelagola to attract both domestic and foreign tourists.

Proposal

Ms. Aadilakshmi said that a proposal for Rs. 26.34 crores had been sent to the Commissioner of Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) for developing tourist destinations, including Doddagaddavalli, Koravangala, Kondajji, Harnahalli, Nuggehalli, Mosale, Belur, Halebeed, and Shravanabelagola, which were well known for Hoysala architecture.

The proposal also included the development of Ramanathapura on the banks of the Cauvery, Manjrabad Fort, Bisile Ghat, Gorur dam, Sriramadevarakatte, and Shanthigrama, she said.

It had been decided to develop tourist facilities in Halebeed at a cost of Rs. 3.76 crores.

There were plans to provide tourist cottages, dormitory blocks, public convenience, drinking water facilities, improving the temple complex and restoration works, improvement of approach roads, and upgradation of facilities at Hotel Mayura, she added.

International standards

Another proposal worth Rs. 12.73 crores had been sent for the development of Belur.

The proposal included the construction of an hotel of international standards.

The hotel would have individual cottages, air conditioned cottages, non-air conditioned rooks, a restaurant, a conference hall, an auditorium, a swimming pool, a coffee shop, and sports facilities, such as billiards, snooker, shuttle court, table tennis, and bowling alley, Ms. Aadilakshmi said.

Development

The development of water harvesting by constructing nala bunds, check dams and bolder dams; fencing the area; providing water supply and sanitary facilities; improvement of power supply; yoga and naturopathy training centres; improvement of the residential quarters of the service staff; development of herbal garden; laying joggers track; providing solar water heater equipments; handicrafts show room; and setting up an amusement park, had also been included in the proposals, she added.

Ms. Aadilakshmi said that a separate proposal for the development of Shravanabelagola in view of the coming Mahamastakabhisheka would be sent.

She said that the department had released Rs. 77.80 lakhs for the construction of Yatri Nivas in Shravanabelagola.

The department was planning to release additional funds for the construction of another floor.

The department would soon release a brochure of international standards on Shravanabelagola, as advised by the Commissioner of KSTDC.

There was a 20 per cent increase in the tourist influx compared to the previous year.

Ms. Aadilakshmi said that tourism had suffered in 2003 due to the Cauvery agitation.

Tourism potential of Hassan yet to be tapped: Page 5

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Thrust on infrastructure in tourist destinations