PANAJI: The Minister for Tourism, Manohar ‘Babu’ Azgaonkar on Tuesday said that the government is all set to develop the Siddhanath hill as a tourist destination under a holistic plan for the development of tourism in Ponda taluka.
The Minister of Tourism, while replying to a related question from the Shiroda MLA, Subhash Shirodkar said that a contract to install LED lights would also be awarded soon so as to illuminate the location. “The tourism department has proposed to carry out street lighting illumination from the Top Cola junction to Shree Siddhanath temple located at the Siddhanath hill,” he added.
Earlier, Shirodkar said that government should concentrate on attracting the visiting tourists from the beach areas to hinterland of Goa.
Replying to another tourism-related question, Azgaonkar said that the Goa Tourism Development Corporation has already taken up the project of development of boating side at Mayem lake, at a cost of Rs 8.93 crore.
“The order to commence the work has been issued to the lowest quoted contractor M/s Bagkiya Constructions Pvt Ltd, Porvorim with the date of commencement being March 3, 2015 and stipulated date of completion being October 2017,” he added, pointing out that the project comprises development of the Mayem lake by providing facilities such as parking area for 57 cars and 10 buses including approach road and entrance gate, entrance plaza and ticketing booth, development of internal pathway and natural trail cafeteria and coffee deck, amphitheatre of 150 capacity, toilet blocks, children play area and Mirror Maze picnic spots, and landscaping and illumination.
“The contractor has started the work on the site and the work has been completed to the extent of 90 per cent,” it was stated, further informing that the works as regards finishing and landscaping are in progress.