Proposals sent to develop six places as tourist spots

Online edition of India's National Newspaper Sunday, Feb 28, 2010 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/28/stories/2010022858230100.htm Proposals sent to develop six places as tourist spots Karthik Madhavan Aim is to project Erode as a popular destination — PHOTO: M.GOVARTHAN Promoting tourism: Kulavilakku Amman Temple in Nanjai Kalamangalam village is one of the places the district administration has suggested to the Tourism Department for development as a tourist centre. ERODE: The district administration has sent proposals to the State Tourism Department to develop six places as tourist spots. District Collector R. Sudalaikannan told The Hindu that the administration had suggested development of Kulavilakku Amman Temple in Nanjai Kalamangalam Temple, near Erode, place where the annual horse fair takes place near Anthiyur, Erode V.O.C. Park, Gunderipallam Dam in Gobichettipalayam taluk, Kalingarayan Dam near Bhavani, Perumpallam Dam in Sathyamangalam taluk and River Bhavani banks in Sathyamangalam. He said the move followed the department's efforts to promote tourism by funding infrastructure development in places that were not popular but had the potential to evolve as tourist spots. To develop the Kulavilakku Amman Temple, the administration has sought Rs. 3 crore to construct an arch, cement top the road leading to the temple, build jetty, dorms, etc. It has said that development of the temple located on River Cauvery banks will increase tourist inflow, as it is close to the famous Nattateeswarar Temple and Kodumudi. For the Erode V.O.C. Park project, the administration has asked for Rs. 1 crore to lay a new pathway, install a fountain and landscape the 16.9 acres, install another fountain at the children's park in the vicinity and others. The administration has asked for Rs. 15 lakh to construct public convenience facilities, shelters with seating arrangements, provide drinking water, place ornamental bins and erect ornamental arches at a place closer to the annual horse fair in Anthiyur. It has told the department that the facilities will be provided in such a way that not only during the five-day annual Gurunathaswamy Temple festival but round-the-year people make use of those. The proposal to develop Gunderipallam Dam says the administration at Rs. 46.20 lakh will develop a park, construct toilets, shelters, landscape the area surrounding the dam, construct overhead tank to supply drinking water, set up ticket counters and make other arrangements to welcome more tourists. It says tourists who go to the dam from Coimbatore, Tirupur and parts of Erode hardly have any facilities. The administration proposes to take up similar work at Kalingarayan Dam near Bhavani to invite tourists and pilgrims to visit Sangameswarar Temple there. The cost of the project to be taken up is Rs. 77 lakh. Similar is the proposal sent to develop Perumpallam Dam. Mr. Sudalaikannan says the aim is to bring in more places in the district on the tourist map and project Erode as a popular destination.