Shimla : Asian Development Bank would finance for tourism promotion projects worth Rs. 426 crore and Awah-devi Temple complex would be developed from religious tourism point of view .This was stated by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, while laying the foundation stone of beautification of historic and ancient Awahdevi Temple complex estimated to cost of Rs. 44 lakh at Awahdevi in district Hamirpur today, after he dedicated new police Chowki constructed at a cost of Rs. 38 lakh to the people of the area. He said that State Government had submitted a detailed project report to the ADB with regard to the development of many unexplored tourism destinations in the State. He said that the budget was likely to be spent on development of basic infrastructural facilities in all the upcoming tourism destinations in the State. He said that the State had received 1.32 crore tourists during preceding financial year which was double to the population of the state. He said that the number of tourists was likely to increase further with the creation of better and improved infrastructural facilities. He said that tourism needed to be made a household \affair which had vast employment potential since against an investment of Rs. 10 lakh and 48 persons were getting employment directly or indirectly.
Chief Minister said that Awah-devi temple complex was historic and related to the era Pandava who were believed to have built the same. He said that it was a prominent shrine of the devotees from Kangra and Mandi besides Hamirpur. He said that lakhs of devotees throng the place round the year to seek blessings of the Goddess. He said that with the construction of the new complex, devotees visiting the shrine would be facilitated with all basic amenities they required. He said that the height of the new temple would be 63 feet and to be a combination of all faiths. He said that the main temple complex would not be disturbed. He said that it was bound to give boost to the religious tourism in the area.
Prof. Dhumal appealed to the devotees to donate liberally towards the construction of temple complex which would add to the beautification of the complex.
He was also presented a draft of Rs. 21,000 by Shri Om Prakash of temple committee as contribution towards CM Relief Fund. Shri Om Prakash Sharma, Chairman of Awahdevi Temple Committee welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries and thanked him for laying the foundation stone of the new temple complex.
Shri Gulab Singh Thakur, PWD and Revenue Minister, Shri I.D. Dhiman, Education Minister, Shri Baldev Sharma, MLA, Smt. Sarla Sharma, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Smt. Maya Sharma, President, District Mahila MOrha, Shri Narender Atri, President, state BJYM, Shri Des Raj Sharma, President, District Hamirpur BJP. Shri Pyare Lal Sharma, Chairman, APMC, Shri Rasil Singh Mankotia, Chairman, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, other prominent dignitaries, DC. SP and other senior officers were present on the occasion.