MYSORE: Mysore is tipped to receive an assistance of Rs. 50 crore from the Centre under a new tourism development project.

Revealing this to presspersons here on Thursday, Housing Minister D.T. Jayakumar said the Union Tourism Ministry had taken up a programme to beautify and develop one tourist centre in each State at a cost of Rs. 50 crore. "The State Government, which had been authorised to choose the tourist centre, had selected Mysore for the project," he added.

Alternative destination

Initially, the Government had suggested Hampi for the project. "But the Centre asked the State to identify an alternative tourist destination as Hampi has been selected to receive funds under the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. Hence, Mysore has been chosen for the project," Mr. Jayakumar said.

The proposal had been submitted to the Centre and a discussion on it had taken place with Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni, he said.

Action plan

A comprehensive action plan to beautify and develop Mysore as a tourist destination would be prepared shortly.

Deputy Commissioner Selva Kumar had been instructed to set the process of preparing the action plan in motion by holding a preliminary discussion with environmentalists, intellectuals, elected representatives and representatives of various organisations, he said.

The meeting will be held in the next 10 days. "The action plan will be prepared meticulously so that it will help planners for the next 10 years, irrespective of which party assumes power," he said.

Package tour

Mr. Jayakumar favoured a package tour of three days covering Srirangapatna, KRS, Nanjangud, Chamundi Hills, Bandipur, Somanthapur Temple in T. Narsipur, Talkad and forest sanctuaries of Bandipur keeping in mind a "middle-class tourist".

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