The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Plans to promote Yelagiri Hills on the anvil

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Friday, Jan 05, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Plans to promote Yelagiri Hills on the anvil

T.S. Shankar

Tourism Department will spend Rs.46 lakh on creating a summer park

— Photo: S.S. KUMAR

LAKE LUCID: The lake in Yelagiri Hills is a big tourist attraction.

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Tourism Department has drawn up plans for promoting the Yelagiri Hills in Vellore district as one of the top attractions in the State.

"The Government, after careful consideration, has accepted the proposal of the Commissioner of Tourism and accorded sanction of Rs.100.60 lakh towards meeting of non-recurring development works of the Yelagiri Hills under the Part-II scheme during 2006-07," says Tourism and Culture Secretary V. Iraianbu. The hills, known as "Poorman's Ooty", would be developed at a cost of Rs.92 lakh. The Tourism Department would spend Rs.46 lakh on creating an exclusive summer park, and the remaining Rs.46 lakh would be made available by the district administration. The Government has also directed that this project be implemented under the supervision of the Collector.

Besides the summer park, the Government will undertake a techno-economic feasibility study for setting up a golf course, which will be promoted under the Build Operate Own Transfer (BOOT) concept. The Collector has been directed to appoint, after short-listing, a project consultant. A sum of Rs.1 lakh has been sanctioned for the study.

Among the initiatives are formation of a footpath from Kattidamaiyam to the boat houses road, creating parks and providing play items for children, beautification of Pachayat Pazha Thoppy at Nillavur, construction of a check-dam in the channel at Pallakaniyur, de-silting of the boating lake and provision of lighting arrangements at the children park at Punganoor, renovation of the pond and operating pedal bots at Nilavoor, construction of pay-and-use public convenience at Nilavoor, provision of information boards at important places , and upgradation of approach roads. "We are focussing on the Yelagiri Hills as a major family destination since it is not very far away from Chennai and is an ideal destination during a weekend," Mr. Iraianbu said.

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