Pradhan reviews Konark tourist facilities work

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, Aug 20: Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday reviewed progress of tourist facilities and peripheral development at Sun Temple Complex at Konark and directed officials to complete the task before Nabakalebara.Indian Oil Foundation Trust (IOF) created by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), which is entrusted to develop the project has sanctioned an amount of Rs.36 crore for the project.The officials of IOF gave a detailed presentation on the facilities proposed to be constructed at Konark.The officials said the construction work is at standstill due to encroachment of the land, proposed to be developed. They approached the Minister to take up the issue with the Odisha Government to facilitate the work.Pradhan instructed that in view of the forthcoming celebrations of ‘Nabakalebara’ in June 2015, the project must be completed latest by April 2015, according to a press release. The Minister said a state-of-art Interpretation Centre with facilities such as Audio-Visual Centre, descriptive galleries, souvenir shops and other facilities would be developed to explain the tourists the history and science behind the Sun Temple and the great cultural and historical tradition of Odisha. The IOF was instructed to expedite the work on this front. It was decided that the work for the Interpretation Centre would commence in the month of September 2014.