Lok Sabha Question No. 243 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-18
Subject: Development of Buddhist Circuit
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.243 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2017

## DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHIST CIRCUIT

## 243.  SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  proposals  have  been  received  by  the  Government from  various  States  including  Gujarat  under  the  Swadesh Darshan  Scheme  for  development  of  International  Buddhist Circuit covering the various places in those States;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof along with the present status of the proposals;
- (c) whether  any  such  project  is  being  considered  as  a  special project under Swadesh Darshan Scheme and its planning and implementation  is  being  supplemented  by  accessing  funds from various international Multilateral Agencies and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has identified an international funding agency for financing the project and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (d): Buddhist Circuit has been identified as one of the fifteen thematic  circuits  for  development  under  the  Swadesh  Darshan Scheme.

The State-wise details of projects sanctioned under the above Circuit since the launch of the scheme in 2014-15 are as under:

(Rs. in crore)

|   Sl. No. | State          | Name of the Project/Year of sanction                                  |   Amt. Sanctioned |
|-----------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | Madhya Pradesh | Development of Buddhist Circuit in Sanchi-Satna-Rewa-Mandsaur-Dhar in |             74.94 |

|    |                | Madhya Pradesh. (2016-17)                                                                                                       |       |
|----|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
|  2 | Uttar Pradesh  | Development of Buddhist Circuit - Sravasti, Kushinagar & Kapilvastu in Uttar Pradesh. (2016-17)                                 | 99.97 |
|  3 | Bihar          | Construction of Convention Centre adjacent to Maya Sarovar on the western side at Bodhgaya, Bihar. (2016-17)                    | 98.73 |
|  4 | Gujarat        | Development of Buddhist circuit: Junagadh- Gir-Somnath- Bharuch- Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana in Gujarat. (2017-18)        | 35.99 |
|  5 | Andhra Pradesh | Development of Buddhist Circuit: Shalihundam-Thotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati- Anupu in Andhra Pradesh. (2017-18) | 52.34 |

The  State  Government  of  Gujarat  has  submitted  a  concept proposal for 'Development of International Buddhist Circuit: Dev ni Mori, Gujarat' under Buddhist Circuit Theme. The State Government has proposed that part of the project may be funded by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India under Swadesh Darshan Scheme and for  remaining  they  will  raise  resources  through  PPP  Mode  and international/multilateral agencies. However, no proposal has been submitted by State Government to the Ministry for seeking assistance from international funding agencies.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme is a 100% centrally funded Scheme (Central  Sector  Scheme)  of  Ministry  of  Tourism  and  the  projects under  the  scheme  are  sanctioned  subject  to  availability  of  funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence  to scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier.

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