Welfare and Tourism Minister P.Rajavelu on Thursday said a detailed project report has been prepared for establishing a Special Tourism Zone at Manapet at an estimated cost of Rs.340 crore.
Answering a query by MLA V.Bhalan during Question Hour, Mr. Rajavelu said the Department of Tourism acquired land of around 100 acres at Manapet Revenue Village in May 2008 for development of ‘Special Tourism Zone’ under Public Private Partnership mode. Components of the project are total entertainment zone, film city, resort, convention centre, beach front development, parking and other required supporting infrastructure facilities and water sports activities.
He said meanwhile, the Ministry of Earth Sciences had approached the Government to develop an Oceanarium in Puducherry and requested 16 acres of land. Accordingly, a team of officials from National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) had visited the sites twice in 2013 and recommended the land earmarked by Tourism Department at Manapet for building the Oceanarium.
Mr. Rajavelu said active steps would be taken soon to establish the oceanarium at Manapet.