After according industry status to tourism in the state, the central government has sanctioned 147 tourism development projects worth Rs 428.19 crore for creation of tourism-related infrastructure and development of tourist spots in Jammu and Kashmir in the last ten years.

Against the total allocations, the Centre has released Rs 236.38 crore, of which Rs 218.61 crore have been spent till last financial year on the execution of various schemes, including 73 completed projects.

The statistics were conveyed at a meeting convened here to review the physical and financial achievements of centrally- sponsored tourism development projects with Tourism and Culture minister Nawang Rigzin Jora in the chair.