Latest news with #SwadeshDarshanScheme
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
National Green Tribunal halts ecotourism at Odisha's highest peak Deomali
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has halted ecotourism at Deomali, the highest peak in Odisha in the Koraput district, and ordered the state to secure clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, for structures built for it within three months or demolish them and restore the land. NGT's eastern zonal bench of Justice B Amit Sthalekar and Arun Kumar Verma said 10 cottages for tourists with dining halls and dormitories, and other constructions lacked permissions. 'If the required approval is not obtained within the stipulated time, erected shall be removed, and the area shall be restored to its original form. In any case, no diversion of the land in question shall be made for non-forestry purposes, and the respondents [state and the Union governments] shall ensure strict compliance with the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, read with the Forest Rights Act, 2006,' the bench said. The bench directed maintenance of a 1.5-2 hectare pine plantation. Deomali, a mountaintop tableland in the Eastern Ghats range, is 5,486 feet above sea level. The Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO), a non-profit organisation, moved the NGT against the constructions, arguing they flouted sustainable development principles. Lawyer Sankar Prasad Pani, who represented WSO, said any non-forest activity in the area requires prior approval under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. 'If the land is not a notified forest and is devoid of trees and vegetation, as is the stand taken, the DFO [divisional forest officer] would have no role in issuing a tender notice for civil works,' said Pani. The Koraput DFO submitted that the ecotourism project site does not fall within any notified forest block or recorded forest land as per the government records, and it is not identified as deemed forest. The NGT was unsatisfied with the submission and said the question arises as to why village level meetings were held for the formation of Van Surakhya Samiti if the state's stand is to be accepted. 'If the land in question was revenue land, the procedure as prescribed under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, would have had no application or necessity,' the bench said. The Deomali project is part of the Union government's Swadesh Darshan Scheme for infrastructure development to boost tourism. The tourism department has separately sanctioned ₹16 crore for the integrated development of the area. There is also a proposal for an ecotourism complex at an estimated cost of about ₹4.5 crore.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Development of Karkala pilgrim centres planned
Udupi: Union minister of culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited pilgrimage and tourist centres in Karkala, which will be developed by the central govt. The minister said: "We are committed to making the idea of 'Ek Bharath Shreshta Bharat' a reality through this. For this, all pilgrim centres and tourist spots also need to be developed similar to the way our economy is growing." Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar said he met the minister in Delhi and sought support to develop pilgrim and tourism destinations in the region. "A masterplan has been prepared to develop these tourism destinations under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the central govt. The popular pilgrim centre of Bahubali at Anekere, the Jain Basadi of Varanga and Ramasamudra will be developed in two phases at an estimated cost of Rs 116 crore," he said. Further, on Operation Sindoor, the minister said the day India launched the attack was a proud day for the nation.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Union Minister Announces Rs 116 Crore Plan for Karkala Pilgrim Center Development
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat UDUPI: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism , visited pilgrimage and tourist centres in Karkala , which will be developed by the central govt. The Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision to develop all the pilgrimage centres and tourism destinations across the nation.'India has its own diverse identity, and the idea is to convert this diversity into unity. Tourism is one of the ways to bring unity in diversity. Tourists who visit pilgrimage centres symbolise unity in diversity. We are committed to making the idea of 'Ek Bharath Shreshta Bharat' a reality through this. For this, all pilgrim centres and tourist spots also need to be developed similar to the way our economy is growing,' said emphasised that the need of the hour is to take care and alleviate the tourist experience. 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD Schemes. Several projects under these two schemes have already been taken up, and works are in progress across the nation,' he on Operation Sindoor, the Minister said the day India launched the attack was a proud day for the nation. 'When terrorists attacked our tourists at Pahalgam, the Prime Minister took a stern decision to end saw how our forces entered the terrorist camps and launched attacks to eliminate terrorist elements from their hideouts. It is a changing picture of India, where the nation is getting stronger at a time when we also see the strengthening of our cultural heritage,' he MLA V Sunil Kumar said that he met the Minister in Delhi and sought support to develop pilgrim and tourism destinations in the region. 'A masterplan has been prepared to develop these tourism destinations under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the central govt. The popular pilgrim centre of Bahubali at Anekere, the Jain Basadi of Varanga, and Ramasamudra will be developed in two phases at an estimated cost of Rs 116 crore,' he part of the plans to take up development works under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, the Minister arrived in Karkala to visit the tourist places, he added. Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Kota Shrinivas Poojary was present.
