Tourism Dept in tight spot!

There has been a drastic cut in the budget to be sanctioned to the Tourism Department for the approaching Ardh Kumbh fair-2007. From the mammoth amount of Rs 50 lakh which was to be sanctioned earlier, now the amount has been reduced to Rs 17.55 lakh by the State Government.

There has been a drastic cut in the budget to be sanctioned to the Tourism Department for the approaching Ardh Kumbh fair-2007.

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From the mammoth amount of Rs 50 lakh which was to be sanctioned earlier, now the amount has been reduced to Rs 17.55 lakh by the State Government.

With such a decrease in the amount, the department is finding it hard to carry on with its pre-planned ventures during Ardh Kumbh. Squeeze in the budget has triggered the department to reframe the entire plan.

"The decision to reduce the budget was undertaken in a meeting held five days ago. There is no question of compromising with the quality of work we have been entitled to undertake.

However there are definite chances of reduction in the quantity," said RK Yadav, Regional Tourist officer.

The project of Tourism Department for the Ardh Kumbh comprised of the establishment of Tourism Information Centres at seven spots in the city such as the the railway station, bus depots in Civil Lines and Zero Road, Arail and Jhunsi area, main mela area and at Sangam. It has to be established to provide folders, guide maps etc to the tourists.

The department has also the responsibility to print the city guide map for the tourists and the numbers to be printed earlier were 1.50 lakh. Likewise, the folders to be printed are 3 lakh in number. Twenty spots are to be chosen to set up hoardings bearing all the information regarding the tourism spots in the city.

Besides, there are also plans to erect Swiss cottages for the tourists and set up restaurants by UP State Tourism Development Corporation.

"With too many preparations to be made, we are definitely falling short of budget," said Yadav.

The deadline set for completion of the task set by the district administration is December 25 and the entire work of erection of Swiss Cottages and restaurants will start after November 15.

However, the talks are under way between the department and the State Government to agree to the earlier outlay of Rs 50 lakh. "Before starting with our preparations, we are trying our best to make the state government agree to the earlier set budget. After the final decision, the permission to start work will be sought from the Director, Tourism Department," said Yadav.