pondicherry spends about rs 16 crore on tourism promotion events annually and chandigarh needs to take up the matter seriously an official added big projects like beautification of sukhna lake and rose garden have been sent to the centre for seeking financial aid and the tourism department should not worry about such expenditures he said a chandigarh tourism promotional events in the city could soon be put on hold unless the department of finance puts its stamp on the expenditure made in anticipation of approval even though the tourism department was promised an annual budget of rs 2 crore only half the amount was set aside and no additional allocations were made senior official however justified uts budget allocation for tourism considering that it did not spend on infrastructure development as in case of other uts and states to avoid such a crisis in future the tourism department is working on a plan to make the society for tourism and entertainment promotion for chandigarh steps selfsufficient in funds by forging agreements with private parties a mega event like chandigarh carnival can be put together in less than rs 25 lakh due to proper sponsorship and this model will be encouraged in case of future events as well a ut official said sources said the tourism department had taken up the matter with ut home secretary ram niwas stating that payments due to be made for events organized over the past two years were stuck and allocation of funds be made immediately officials said the amount was too less when compared with the budget of other ut departments like it which has been allocated rs 4 crore meanwhile samwartak singh ut director tourism said a request will be made to the department of finance to increase the budget fixed for the chandigarh tourism department the department of finance is believed to have made it clear that events should be planned within the allocated budget and in future the tourism department should not spend in anticipation of approval