Namsai: Arunachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Chowna Mein on Monday reviewed the progress of the Parshuram Kund Development Project (PKDP) being implemented at the holy pilgrimage site in Lohit district.
The Rs 37.87 crore project funded by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme, is being executed by the state’s public works department.
Mein in the meeting held at Chongkham near here said that Parshuram Kund is going to be one of the biggest pilgrimage sites in the country and it will be developed into a major tourist destination.
He accordingly asked the executing agency to expedite the work in war footing.
Mein asked the Lohit deputy commissioner to map the earmarked area of 75 hectares in Parshuram Kund and to make it free from all encumbrances.
He further asked the PKDP project manager to prepare a master plan indicating all components like river-front restaurant, view point, children park, guest house, etc which can be taken up in the second phase of the project.
The deputy chief minister informed that funds for flood protection and boundary wall for Parshuram Kund has already been sanctioned by the state government.
Moreover, a sum of Rs 1 crore as annual grants-in-aid will be provided by the government to the Parshuram Kund committee for running and maintenance of the pilgrimage site besides organizing an annual mela, he said.
Mein further asked the deputy commissioner to form a committee involving the Parshuram Kund Development Trust (PKDT) and local people to oversee the functioning and maintenance of the pilgrimage site.
The deputy chief minister during the meeting also enquired about the status of the National Highway project from Brahmakund to Chongkham which he had assured to take up with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Former Chongkham MLA and PKDT patron C T Mein, Namsai deputy commissioner R K Sharma, his Lohit counterpart Marge Sora, PWD superintending engineer T Tabin, tourism director Abu Tayeng, Lohit ZPC Sadula Krisikro and Sri Hari Sharan Das, a sage from Parshuram Kund were present in the meeting.
