Telangana's Ramappa, Somasila Circuits to Receive Rs 142 crore Assistance
Hyderabad: The Centre had included Ramappa and Somasila tourist circuits from the state under the special assistance to states/Union Territories for capital investment (SASCI), which would get Rs 142 crore assistance. Under the sustainable tourism circuits, Ramappa get grant Rs 74 crore assistance and Somasila Rs 68 crore for the wellness and spiritual retreat in the Nallamala forests.
The Centre has identified 40 projects under the SASCI with a financial outlay of Rs 3,295.76 crore. States would get 50-year interest-free support under the scheme, which helps boost the local economy and create employment.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for including two projects from Telangana, Telangana BJP president and Union minister G. Kishan Reddy pointed out that the state had benefited in the past under Swadesh Darshan scheme.
A number of tourist destinations including Somasila, Singhotam, Kadalivanam, Akka Mahadevi, Egala Penta, Farhabad, Uma Maheshwaram and Mallela Teertham had been developed as eco-circuits at a cost of Rs 92 crore. The renovation works of Ramappa temple were going ahead with Rs 62 crore under the PRASAD scheme.
Kishan Reddy said that the Laknavaram, Medavaram, Tadwai, Damarawai, Malluru and Bogata waterfalls had been included the Girijan Circuit under Swadesh Darshan scheme at a cost of Rs 80 crore. The Centre had already developed Paigah Tombs, Hayat Bakshi Masjid, and Raymond’s Tomb under the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park at a cost of Rs 97 crore.
Kishan Reddy said that works were underway under the PRASAD scheme for development of the Lord Seetharamaswamy temple in Bhadrachalam with Rs 42 crore, Jogulamba temple with Rs 4.5 crore and Balkampet Yellamma temple in Hyderabad.
The Centre also provided Rs 57 crore for development of the Bhuvanagiri fort, Rs 38 crore for Anantagiri eco-tourism project under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. The Modi government also allocated Rs 25 crore for Nalgonda culture and heritage project under the Challenge Based Destination Development Scheme and Rs 10 crore to develop Kalki Cheruvu in Kamareddy under eco-tourism project.
Kishan Reddy pointed out that the Centre was giving financial assistance for development of Warangal fort, Golconda fort, Osmania University, sound, illumination and lighting works at Tank Bund, Buddhavanam at Nagarjunasagar, Thousand Pillar temple, besides setting up the regional centre of the Sangeet Natak Academy. The Centre was also giving assistance to Epigraphy Museum, Mint Museum and Komaram Bheem Tribal Museum, he said.