Latest news with #PilgrimageRejuvenationandSpiritualHeritageAugmentationDrive
The Hindu
a day ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Facelift for Chamundi Hills inches closer to reality under PRASHAD scheme
After years of back and forth between the Karnataka government and the Centre, there is finally some progress on the development of Chamundi Hills under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme of the Central government. The Department of Tourism has called a tender for the development of public amenities there. Chamundi Hills in Mysuru is one of the sites in Karnataka that has been considered for development under the scheme which aims to provide sustainable religious tourism, along with the Sri Renuka Yellamma temple in Saundatti in Belagavi and the Paapnaash Shiv Temple in Bidar. The scheme looks to meet the needs of devotees as well as tourists, and build amenities that would encourage both the groups to visit the site more often. Among the things that have been proposed for the Chamundi Hills project are drinking water and toilet facilities, a queue mandapa around the temple premises to ensure regular and unhindered pilgrim flow, stone columns along the stretch, redesigned steps of the hill, a multi-purpose hall, footwear stands, a fountain the around Mahishasura circle, a police booth, etc. While a tender was first called a few months ago, the estimated cost of development came up to ₹108 crore, which is ₹60 crore more than the Central government's allocation for the project. 'We sent the proposal back to the Central government for the release of the additional amount, but they did not agree to do it. We then requested the State government to provide the extra funds and received their approval. Now, the Centre will give ₹48 crore for the project, while the State will give ₹60 crore,' explained Salma Fahim, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department. She added, 'We hope that this time we can award the tender and the work can finally begin.' There had been a considerable delay in the release of funds from the Centre for the Chamundi Hills project which led to tensions during the South India Tourism Conclave held in September 2024 in Bengaluru. H.K. Patil, Minister of Tourism, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, had said that 'it was a matter of embarrassment.' The Union Minister had then retorted saying that there was some work pending on the State's part. Apart from the PRASHAD scheme, Chamundi Hills has also been included in the Centre's Swadesh Darshan 2.0., with an allocated cost of ₹23 crore. This will include a Tonga Ride Heritage Experience Zone and an Ecological Experience Zone.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Time of India
PRASAD scheme faces scrutiny after wall collapse incident at Simhachalam temple
Visakhapatnam: The recent wall collapse incident at Simhachalam Temple, resulting in seven fatalities and one injury, has brought the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme under scrutiny. The ministry of tourism launched this scheme in scheme was envisioned to promote the holistic development of pilgrimage destinations across India. However, the works at Simhachalam were undertaken without adhering to proper norms and designs. More violations came to light after the visit of the three-member committee appointed by the govt following the wall collapse govt had sanctioned Rs 54 crore to take up various works, including a complex at New Ghat Road, which is against the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The pilgrimage center under construction at the bus stand on the hill has congested the area, while the cold storage facility remains incomplete. Works on food courts, Tourism Information Centre, and bus bays were not initiated due to incomplete five-storey facility for the devotees is being constructed at Old Pushkarini Chowltry, proposed against the permissions, and the parking facility is not according to the accommodation. There was no provision for stormwater at the commercial complex constructed recently. There were many violations in the works taken up under the PRASAD the PRASAD scheme works were scheduled for completion by 2024, only 60% progress was achieved, with expenditure of Rs 30.43 crore. Engineering officials are now seeking additional time beyond the March say that the works were taken up by the contractor, who secured the bid at 4% above the estimated value, failed to complete various works, including at the old Ghat Road, Yajnasala, VIP parking, and dress changing rooms at the Gangadhara, all due by 2024.
Hans India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
It is natural calamity- ‘Anam' calamity: ‘Anam'
Nellore: Endowment Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy has said that the tragic incident that occurred at Simhachalam temple of Visakhapatnam district claimed 8 lives is a natural calamity. Addressing press conference organized at his camp office in the city here on Wednesday the minister has said that the mishap was occurred after a wall which was under construction at the 3rd ticket counter of the temple collapsed around 2 am of Wednesday. The minister said that government has deployed a three-member committee to probe the incident. The minister has analysed that following water due to occurrence of incessant rain accompanied with strong winds flow down in to the temple and reached at the wall as the bricks which were used for constructing the structure still witnessed wet, after clay melted leads sudden collapse of the structure resulted 8 devotees sleeping under it died on spot. The minister said development of Simhachalam temple was taken up with funds sanctioned under Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme of central government. He said that it was already two temples like Sri Sailam temple of Kurnool district, Kanaka Durga temple of Krishna district were completed under PRASAD which Simhachalam was under progress. The minister said that state government has announced Rs 25lakhs Ex-Gratia to each deceased, while Rs 3lakhs to the person injured in the incident. The minister said that it also proposed to provide the Job to one person from deceased family under outsourcing system.
