AGARTALA, Aug 25 - The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has finally submitted a Detail Project Report (DPR) aimed at development of the State�s most attractive archeological site � Unakoti.
The DPR is now under consideration of the State government. Once the State approves the DPR, the ASI will undertake massive facelift works at Unakoti, a 45-minute drive from Kumarghat. The Rs 1.41-crore facelift project will take 2 to 3 years to be completed.
Under the DPR, a tourist information centre would be set up with an estimated cost of Rs 27.92 lakh, while a cafeteria will also be established at the site at a cost of Rs 13.96 lakh. Besides, setting up of viewing platform, approach road, pedestrian pathways, retaining and curb wall, illumination and fencing are also components of the facelift works prepared by the ASI.
Landscaping around building and horticulture development are part of the DPR. Of the total project cost, around 80 percent fund was released to the ASI to undertake facelift works at Unakoti archeological site two years back, keeping in mind of its beleaguered condition. But the ASI had failed to prepare DPR to pave the way for undertaking facelift works at Unakoti archeological site.
�The Rs 1.41 project has already got delayed as ASI could not submit the DPR in time. After pressure from various levels, it was rattled and submitted the DPR before the State government a few days back,� said Director Tourism Tapas Roy said here today.
�For the past two years, we could not get any project passed by the Ministry of Tourism for failing to submit utilization certificate against the fund released for Unakoti project,� he lamented.
Roy, who had a meeting with the ASI Director (Archeology) over the issue in Delhi, added, �We are putting our best effort to start the ambitious project at the earliest. Once the government approves the DPR, we will request the ASI to start the massive facelift works at Unakoti as early as possible.�
On being asked about submission of utilization certificate of Unakoti district, he replied, �We are on the move to convince the Ministry of Tourism to sanction projects without taking into consideration of Unakoti fiasco.�
