Utilization Certificate not yet submitted to Central Govt. on Expenditure under PRASHAD Yojana

 

Utilization Certificate not yet submitted to Central Govt. on Expenditure of Rs. 60 crore released to Govt. of Odisha under PRASHAD Scheme since 2014-15

Dear  friends

 The Ministry of Tourism launched the PRASAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spirituality Augmentation Drive)  scheme that aims at integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in a prioritised, planned, and sustainable manner in order to provide a complete religious tourism experience. 

Earlier, the scheme identified 12 cities for the development of pilgrimage and heritage destinations. The criterion for the selection of these cities is their rich heritage and cultural history.

The 12 cities identified under the scheme at first are as mentioned below:

Kamakhya (Assam)

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh)

Dwaraka (Gujarat), 

Gaya (Bihar),

Amritsar (Punjab),

Ajmer (Rajasthan)

Puri (Odisha), 

Kedarnath (Uttarakhand)

Kanchipuram(Tamil Nadu)

Velankanni (Tamil Nadu),

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), 

Mathura (Uttar Pradesh)

 Objectives of PRASAD Scheme

PRASAD Scheme is launched with the following objectives:

·         To enhance tourism attractiveness in a sustainable manner

·         To harness pilgrimage tourism so that it directly affects and multiplies the employment generation and economic development.

·         To promote local art and culture, handicraft and cuisines etc.

·         To develop world-class infrastructure in religious destinations

The development of infrastructure under PRASAD Scheme includes the development of lighting and illumination with renewable energy sources, eco-friendly modes of transport, first aid centres, drinking water, waiting rooms, toilets, parking, craft bazaars/souvenir shops / haats / cafeteria, rain shelters, telecom facilities, internet connectivity etc. Development of basic tourism facilities like road, rail and water transport, last-mile connectivity, like Information and interpretation centers, Money exchanges and ATMs.

 On 3.9.20, RTI Application was  submitted   to the CPIO, Ministry  of Tourism, Govt. of India seeking  information about  details of fund  released  to  Govt. of  Odisha  under PRASHAD Yojana  and details of  utilization  certificate  submitted  by Govt. of Odisha  against  the expenditure  of the  fund released so far.

 The Response of  CPIO dt. 28.9.20 is as follows.

 A.   Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India released Rs. 50 crores for Infrastructure Development   at Puri, Shree Jagannath Dham - Ramachandi - Prachi River front at Deuli under mega circuit in  2014-15.  Besides that the Ministry also  released  an  amount of Rs. 10.00 crore   to the Department of Tourism, Govt. of Odisha  in the same  year 2014-15.

 B.   Though six years passed, the Govt. of Odisha  has  not  submitted  Utilization Certificate of a single rupee  to  the  Central Ministry  till yet.

 

Srikant Pakal

RTI Activist

M-9338455092

Date-29.9.20