Unutilized grant: May return back to centre

• The slow pace of the state’s tourism department
• Shock to the development of Karavali | MP needs to convince the centre

Byndoor: Due to the slow pace of the state’s tourism department there is fear that the Rs 95 crore under the union government’s “Swadeshi Dharshan” scheme may be missed.  

The central government has directed to return back the grant and this has caused a danger to the development of the coast at Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. If the MP and the representatives of the people do not wake up and put in a request with the central government, the grant will be missed.

What is this scheme?

The aim of this scheme is to develop the sea shores and tourist destination and to promote them on a global level. For this, the central government had sanctioned Rs 95 crore for the state. Of the total amount, Rs 25 crore was reserved for the development of Udupi and Maravanthe beach. A blueprint of Rs 19 crore had been prepared and Rs 1.59 crore had been released. If the total amount was released, Maravanthe beach would been developed completely.

Dakshina Kannada district requested for Rs 24 crore with the proposal of developing Tannirbhavi and Sasihithlu beaches. First Someshwar beach was kept forth. According to the department, everything has been submitted. But according to the department of tourism at the centre, the proposals have not been submitted in good time and also the released money has not be utilized. But, since the tourism department failed to give the proper report within the prescribed time and since n action was taken for the use of the grant, it has been stopped. Moreover, other few districts have also failed to submit the reports in good time.

For the Rs 10 crore proposal of the Uttara Kannada district, Rs 9.50 crore was provided. But since no tender process has been conducted, the central tourism department has directed the return of the grants.

Reality informed

“Since the grant for Maravanthe has been stopped, the district has suffered a loss and the reality has been informed to the department,” said Anita Bhaskar, Deputy Director of District Tourism

No grant provided

“We have submitted the information asked by the department. Since there are no tourist friendly facilities at Someshwar beach, proposal for Tannirbhavi and Sasihithlu beaches was submitted. But no grant has been provided,” informed Udaya Shetty, Assistant Deputy Director, tourism department, DK

Convince the minister

‘“The negligence of the state tourism department is responsible for the stoppage of the grant. I have already sent a request to the Union minister for tourism,” said B Y Raghavendra, Shimoga MP

Negligence of the district administration

“The central government’s scheme would have helped in the development of the coastal district’s tourism. The slow pace of the district administration has caused the problem. The grant will be brought back,” said Shobha Karandhlaje, MP

Irresponsibility the reason

“The state tourism department did not properly use the Swadeshi Dharshan scheme. Hence the centre has asked back the grant,” Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP

Must raise voices

The MP’s of Udupi and Shimoga have brought the issue to the notice of the union minister for tourism. Instead of becoming quite from her, the people are expecting them to convince the minister and get back the grant.

Article by Arun Kumar Shiroor translated into English by Aaron Dmello