GoI to grant Rs 25 crore annually for upcoming iconic heritage and tourism projects in Punjab

New Delhi, July 9, 2014: Recognising the concerted efforts made by the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to perpetuate the rich cultural legacy of the state, the Government of India (GoI) today agreed to grant Rs 25 crore to the state every year as financial assistance for the upcoming iconic heritage and tourism projects across the state.
A decision to this effect was taken by the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Affairs Shripad Yesso Naik in a meeting with the Chief Minister, who called on the former at his office in Transport Bhawan here this afternoon.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister apprised Naik about the efforts being made by the state government to preserve and highlight the rich cultural heritage of the state by constructing Virasat-e-Khalsa Memorial at Sri Ananpur Sahib, which was daily visisted by nearly 10000 visitors. Likewise, he also apprised the Union Minister about the state-of-the-art Museum cum Panorama center coming up at Valmiki Tirath in Amritsar, where Bhagwan Valmiki ji had created the great epic and masterpiece Ramayana. Badal also told the Union Minister that in order to showcase the supreme sacrifices made by the Punjabis in the national freedom struggle, the state government was coming up with Jang-e-Azaadi memorial at Kartapur near Jalandhar.
The Chief Minister also informed Naik about the War Heroes Museum being constructed by the state government in Amritsar to highlight the sacrifices made by the Punjabis in Armed forces and showcase the gallantry spirit of Punjab. Badal also envisaged special allocation of funds for its ongoing tourism and cultural heritage project as state had made remarkable progress in showcasing the glorious cultural heritage not only at national but at international level also.   
Lauding the efforts being made by the state government to acquaint the younger generations about their glorious history, the Union Minister assured Badal that the Union government would soon sanction nearly Rs 25 crore every year for the projects listed by him. He said that the GoI would release this amount to fund the completion of second phase of Virasat-e-Khalsa in Sri Anandpur Sahib. Assuring fulsome support and cooperation from the Union government in this noble cause, Naik said that the GoI was fully committed for developing Punjab as a major tourist destination at world level.
Acceding to another demand of the Chief Minister, Naik assured him that the Ministry would sympathetically look into the matter of setting up skill centers across the state under its ‘Hunar Se Rozgaar Tak’ program. Naik also assured the Chief Minister that he would soon get the state government’s proposal of Food Craft Institute at Mithra in Hoshiarpur district thoroughly examined to ensure its expeditious clearance. Likewise, he also assured Badal that the feasibility of setting up another Institute of Hotel Management in the state, similarly on the pattern of already existing one at Gurdaspur, would also be explored to enable youth to avail tremendous job opportunities in the Hospitality sector. The Union Minister also informed Badal had already cleared the proposal of Mega Sikh Tourism Circuit encompassing Amritsar-Dera Baba Nanak-Sultanpur Lodhi under its scheme of Mega Projects.   
Meanwhile, accepting the invitation extended by the Chief Minister, Naik agreed to visit Virasat-e-Khalsa at Sri Anandpur Sahib- the birth place of Khalsa very soon.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Finance Vinnie Mahajan, Secretary Tourism Raji P Srivastva and Resident Commissioner Punjab Bhawan K Siva Prasad.
Apart from these Secretary Tourism GoI Parvez Dewan and Secretary Cultural Affairs Ravindra Singh also attended the meeting.