Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta drew attention to the lack of proper infrastructure at key religious and spiritual destinations in the region, emphasizing the untapped potential for pilgrim tourism. During a parliamentary session on Monday, he raised concerns regarding the inclusion of Mangaluru and Karnataka temples under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) and Swadesh Darshan schemes.
Capt Chowta highlighted the region’s temples as vital to attracting global visitors but noted that inadequate facilities hinder the full potential of the area. He shared his observations on social media, pointing out that despite the importance of these temples, proper infrastructure to cater to pilgrims and tourists remains a significant gap. He sought answers from the Union Minister for Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Union Minister Shekhawat responded positively, inviting Capt Chowta for further discussions and assuring full support for the proposals. Following this, Capt Chowta stressed the need for more Karnataka cultural heritage to be included in national tourism schemes. He specifically called attention to the rich religious history of Mangaluru and pointed out that the lack of infrastructure limits the region’s development as a heritage destination.
He also requested guidelines for equitable selection across states and suggested the integration of online resources to promote Mangaluru’s heritage globally. The minister acknowledged the need for digital platforms to showcase India’s heritage and assured necessary steps to support this initiative.
Capt Chowta also raised questions regarding the status of proposals for upgrading the Puttur Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple, Sullia’s Sri Mallikarjuna Swami Temple, and Sri Sahasra Lingeshwara Temple, which are awaiting infrastructure support under the PRASAD scheme.
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