The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Rs. 3.87 crore for amenities at eco-park

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Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Rs. 3.87 crore for amenities at eco-park

Staff Reporter

To establish dancing fountain, landscaping works, amphitheatre, parking lot and garden

— File Photo: G. Moorthy

More facilities soon: The eco-park at Tirupparankundram near Madurai.

MADURAI: Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers M.K. Alagiri, on Monday, informed that the Union Tourism Ministry had sanctioned Rs. 3.87 crore under its ‘Destination Development Scheme’ for developing an eco-park at Tirupparankundram near here.

The Ministry had released Rs. 3.1 crore as first instalment to start the project, Mr. Alagiri said adding the State Tourism Minister N. Suresh Rajan had written to him that the project would be executed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department.

While 68 lakh tourists visited Madurai last year, around 30 lakh of them visited the Subramaniaswamy Temple at Tirupparankundram. As it is very near Madurai, developing it would attract more tourists, he said.

On temple land

This development follows a Rs. 5 crore-proposal of HR and CE Department submitted earlier to the Centre through the State Government as the land of the proposed park is owned by the Subramaniaswamy Temple.

The works to be taken up include a ‘hybrid musical dancing fountain,’ which is expected to cost Rs. 42.63 lakh, landscaping works, amphitheatre, parking lot, garden — all to be established at a cost of Rs. 26.21 lakh, and more landscaping work near the pond and cafeteria at a cost of Rs. 23.95 lakh.

A sum of Rs. 35.41 lakh would be spent to provide a compound grill and fencing around the eco-park.

In 18 months

The HR and CE Department has been directed to commission the park within 18 months and also undertake responsibility for its maintenance. The funds released would be routed through the State Tourism Department.

The HR and CE Commissioner has been asked to submit progress reports to the government through the Director of Tourism, according to an official press release.

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