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Uncertainty over ambitious light and sound project at ancient Jain sites

BHUBANESWAR: Uncertainty looms large over the ambitious light and sound project for the Khandagiri-Udaygiri ancient Jain sites with the Union Tourism Ministry expressing its dissatisfaction with the quality of light arrangements.

Sources in the Department of Tourism said that the Union Tourism and Culture Ministry had provided Rs.1.25 crore for launching the project in 2002 to attract tourists. Cine star Amitabh Bachchan has lent voice for the background narration while pop star Usha Utthap has composed the music for the 80-minute show. The project was planned to be complete within a year but it has been delayed, the sources pointed out.

Bajaj Electricals was assigned with the work, it was learnt.

Union Culture Secretary A. Sengupta visited the spot during his visit to the State last month and expressed his displeasure over the “inferior quality of work” being undertaken, revealed the sources and added that the Department of Tourism has received an instruction from the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to halt the work until a clearance is made by the Ministry.

Meanwhile, State Tourism Minister Debi Prasad Mishra has taken exception to the ‘arbitrary’ decision of the Centre. In a letter dashed to the Ministry, he has urged upon the authorities to ensure that the project gets its final touch at the earliest.

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