Nandi Hills plan still on backburner

Nandi Hills plan still on backburner
BY AKANKSHA MEHROTRA
BENGALURU


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The tourism department’s grandiose plans to develop Nandi Hills as a tourism hot spot has remained on paper due to lack of funds.
This year’s state budget clearly mentions that funds will be allocated to develop the hills, but inter-departmental clashes are acting as a spoke in the wheels. The problems can only be resolved if the state government intervenes.

“A huge amount of Rs 180 crore has been allocated in this year’s budget for tourism, this will definitely help boost the sector with room for improvement of infrastructure facilities at tourist destinations. Development of Nandi Hills was always a dream project for the tourism department, however, low allocation for tourism projects did not make the project feasible,” said officials at the department of tourism.

“However, this year’s budget makes specific mentions of development of Nandi Hills, Kemangundi and Brindavan Gardens. Although funds for their development have been allocated in Budget 200910, the properties come under the horticulture ministry. We can only start work if the property is transferred to the tourism ministry. Inter- departmental issues need to be resolved for the commencement of developmental work at these spots,” added the officials.

Fixed allocations need to be announced by the state government for the work to start at these spots. The budget allocation is expected to be announced within a few days.

“The tourism ministry wants the government to hand over the property to them from the horticulture department. A request for transfer of property to the tourism department has been sent to the government several times. However, due to silence from the government there is uncertainty over the fate of the project,” tourism department officials said.

“It is the government who has to decide which department will undertake the work. It is still not clear to us. The finance ministry will soon announce the budget breakup for tourism but before that we expect the government to resolve this issue of property transfer. Only after this we can work on the project and see if it will be a government or PPP project,” Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) officials said.