JAMMU: Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmed Mir Friday informed the House that approval for three mega tourist circuits of Rs 150 crore including Sufi Circuit Kashmir, Pilgrimage Circuit Jammu and Buddhist Circuit in Ladakh of Rs 50 crore each are under active consideration of the government of Inda, adding that the queries raised by the GoI in this regard have been already been cleared by the J&K government.
Replying to the supplementaries raised by some members to the main question of Ashok Kumar in the House, the minister, according to an official spokesperson, said that construction of ropeway at Patnitop has been already allotted under PPP mode. He said government has vigorously followed forest clearance of the project from Supreme Court, which is expected to be received within one month to take up the construction work of the project.
The minister said that the government is encouraging intending youth to take part in water sports at Buglihar and Ranjit Sagar Dams and for the purpose incentive is being provided for purchase of water sports equipment.
In reply to the main question, the minister said that 152 tourism projects of Rs 628.86 crore have been sanctioned by the GoI for the state under Union Funding and against which 75 projects were completed while as works on remaining 77 projects are at various stages of completion in the state.
The minister said that seven tourism projects of Rs 18.22 crore under GoI funding were sanctioned for destinations coming under Patnitop Development Authority. He said moreover Rs 3.50 crore is also being expended for upgradation of tourist related infrastructure through PDA under State Plan, which also includes some areas of Ramban Constituency.
The minister informed that out of the identified 53 tourism villages 43 projects of Rs. 27.46 crore have been sanctioned by the Centre, Rs 23.26 crore have been released and against which 27 projects have been completed while as the sanction of remaining 10 projects is in pipeline. He said the tourism villages of Ramban district would be got surveyed for development.

Reader correspondent