Samrakshane: Ravi’s dream scheme to protect old temples, churches, mosques

BENGALURU: Tourism minister C.T. Ravi on Saturday announced an ambitious scheme, Samrakshane, aimed at protection of important monuments and buildings which do not figure in the lists of either the Archaeological Survey of India or the state archaeology department.

Speaking to the media on completion of 100 days in office as tourism minister, Mr Ravi said: “There are more than 25,000 temples, mosques, churches, buildings and other monuments across the state which need attention, care, protection and conservation. I felt that these monuments should be brought under scheme to take up restoration work in a phased manner.”

This scheme would tentatively be known as - Samrakshane -but all details would be spelt out in forthcoming budget. “This will be a dream project,” he added.

The tourism minister felt the new scheme could be implemented with the help of private partners as well. "Maintaining heritage can be done through public-private partnership as well," he said without elaborating but it was evident the minister was inspired by the Union Tourism ministry's - Adopt Heritage and Monument Mitra - scheme launched in 2017 in which private entities are roped into manage ASI's big ticket monuments like the Red Fort.

The minister said that his ministry would soon come out with new tourism policy to augment tourism facilities.

“The tourism department contributes nearly 14.8 per cent to the state GDP and with the new policy we intend it to increase the contribution to 20 per cent, a modest target over the next five years," he added.

In response to a question, Mr Ravi said the state government would soon re-launch the Golden Chariot railway project once the railway ministry signs the Memorandum of Understanding.

“I am in touch with Union minister of state for railways, Suresh Angadi to relaunch this train,” he added.