LUCKNOW: In a big push to religious tourism, the UP Cabinet cleared a proposal to set up development boards for Vindhya and Chitrakoot.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath will head the twin boards, which will oversee development projects, including infrastructure, religious and cultural promotion.
Both proposals have been drafted into bills — UP Shri Chitrakoot Dham Teerth Vikas Parishad Bill, 2021 and Vindhya Dham Teerth Vikas Parishad Bill, 2021 — for tabling in the Assembly.
A government spokesperson said, the boards would work towards preserving cultural, ecological and architectural ethos of the two areas, hammer out development schemes, develop holistic tourism facilities, coordinate with agencies and monitor implementation of schemes.
“The Vindhya finds mention in Puranas.
Housing the Vindhyavasini shrine, it’s a key pilgrimage centre and one of the 51 peeths in the country.
The temple is in the middle of the Ganga and lakhs of devotees visit the area during chaitra and shardiya and navratra.
The proposed scheme will give international recognition to Mirzapur and boost tourism,” he said.
Also, the government set a target of planting 30crore saplings this year.
Free saplings will be provided to state and Central government departments, courts, farmers, organisations, individuals, private and government educational institutes, local bodies, gram panchayats and nagar panchayats.
Of the target of 30crore, 10.8crore saplings will be planted by the forest department and the remaining by other institutions.
The cabinet also cleared a proposal to modernise 6,600 borewells and replace allied equipment.
The total cost of the project is Rs 28.80 crore.
The project will be rolled out over three years from 2020-21 to 2022-23.
Once the project is complete, it would help irrigate 76,082 hectare land and benefit 70,000 farmers and families.
The Cabinet also approved transfer land to the culture department for setting up Dr Ambedkar Cultural Centre.
The 5,494sqm land is near Aishbagh Eidgah, Lucknow, and the will have an auditorium with seating capacity of 750 persons, a library and research centre, a photo gallery, museum, multipurpose hall and offices.