KDB seeks Rs 97.06 crore for phase 2 of Krishna circuit

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, November 29

The Kurukshetra Development Board has sought a budget of Rs 97.06 crore under Swadesh Darshan scheme from the Centre for the development of religious sites in the state.

The KDB had selected 12 sites in Kurukshetra, Karnal, Jind, Kaithal, Panipat and Nuh.

The KDB had submitted a list of religious sites, including Amin, Pehowa, Jyotisar, Ashta Koshi Parikrama in Kurukshetra, Vyas Sthali in Karnal, Phalgu Tirtha in Kaithal, Ramrai Tirtha, Som Tirtha-Pindora and Sarpadaman Tirath, Safidon in Jind, Pandav Mandir in Nuh and Tarntauk Yaksha, Seenk in Panipat. The list has been submitted to the Ministry of Tourism for approval.

Earlier in 2016, the Centre had allocated Rs 97.34 crore to Kurukshetra to develop Krishna circuit under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, of which over Rs 60 crore have already been utilised. A multimedia show which will come up at a cost of Rs 16 crore at Brahma Sarovar is also part of the budget sanctioned in the first phase.

As per the information available, the KDB has planned to give a facelift to Saraswati Tirtha in Pehowa as lakhs of people reach here every year for ‘pind daan’ of their ancestors. Amin village, the place where Abhimanyu was killed during the Mahabharata war, will get a chakravyuha formation on the ground and a park will also be developed there. The development work will be carried out on an 8-acre land in Amin village.

Speaking to The Tribune here today, honorary secretary of the KDB Madan Mohan Chhabra said, “For Krishna circuit phase II, a proposal of 12 sites has been submitted with an estimated budget. After approval, detailed project reports of all the sites will be prepared. At present, work at many of these sites is being carried out by the KDB. The biggest challenge will be the Ashta Koti parikarma project as we need to first identify the locations and then develop those. There will encroachments as well and those will be removed.”

“The board has planned to develop the religious sites. With the budget in the second phase, the condition of the ghats will be improved. The focus will also be on improving basic facilities. Expression of Interest has been floated for Theme Consultant for Jyotisar. We have sought budget for Jyotisar in the second phase too. We are hopeful that the project will be approved soon,” he added.