Union Minister of State for Tourism K.J. Alphons has accused the State government of being ‘non-cooperative to proposals by the Centre,’ thus affecting the timely implementation of projects.
Addressing mediapersons here on Saturday, Mr. Alphons said the State had not spent a single penny of the ₹20 crore sanctioned in the first phase of the ₹99.99-crore Sabarimala corridor project.
Guruvayur project
The implementation of the ₹46-crore project at the Guruvayur temple was also moving at a snail’s pace.
He said the Centre had allotted ₹550 crore for the tourism sector in Kerala, the highest amount for any State. This included a flagship spiritual circuit projecting 133 religious centres across the State.
Launch today
“The ₹69.47-crore project, focussing on Sivagiri, will be launched on Sunday. The ₹76.55-crore Gavi-Wagamon-Thekkady tourism project will be inaugurated on February 17. Further, work is slated to begin on a ₹80.37-crore project for developing cruise tourism,” he said.
Mr. Alphons criticised Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for triggering a controversy by shooting off a letter to the Prime Minister with regard to the inauguration of the Sivagiri pilgrimage circuit project. “It is up to the Centre to decide whom to invite. However, I sent intimation letters to the State Tourism Minister and Chief Minister on the project inauguration,” he said.
Mr. Vijayan had earlier expressed displeasure over the decision of the Union Tourism Ministry to hold the foundation stone laying of the circuit at Varkala without informing the State government.
He said then that Mr. Alphons had handled the issue in a manner which went against federal principles.
‘Cultural festival’
Mr. Alphons said that the Union Ministry of Tourism would organise a ‘cultural festival of India’ at Thekkinkad Maidanam, Thrissur, and Amal Jyothi Engineering College, Kanjirappally, on February 23 and 24 respectively, to revive the flood-ravaged tourism industry of Kerala. Art forms of 10 States, including Kerala, would be staged on the occasion, in which around 150 artistes would participate, the Minister said.
Regarding the upcoming election, the Minister said he was least interested in contesting. However, if asked by the party, he would wish to contest from Pathanamthitta as it was his ‘natural constituency.’