Lok Sabha Question No. 5973 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-10
Subject: Development of Wildlife and Forest Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: KANWAR SINGH TANWAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5973 ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017

## DEVELOPMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FOREST TOURISM

## 5973. SHRI KANWAR SINGH TANWAR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any scheme has been formulated to promote wildlife and forest tourism in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with its scope in various States including Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) whether  any  requests  from  State  Governments  and  public representatives have  been  received  for developing  forest areas as tourist places; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon, State/UT-wise and the funds provided by the  Government  for  promoting  wildlife  and  forest  tourism during the financial year 2015-16 and 2016-17, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (d): For  Integrated  Development  of  Theme-Based  Tourist Circuits  in  the  country  including  wildlife  and  forest  areas,  the Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  in 2014-15. Under Swadesh Darshan scheme thirteen thematic circuits have  been  identified  for  development  namely;  North-East  India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit,  Desert  Circuit,  Tribal  Circuit,  Eco  Circuit,  Wildlife  Circuit, Rural Circuit,  Spiritual  Circuit,  Ramayana  Circuit  and  Heritage Circuit.

Under  the  scheme   Central  Financial  Assistance  is  provided mainly for development/creation of tourism related infrastructure in wildlife/forest areas such as construction of tourist facilitation/information  centres, development of entrance  area in buffer  zone,  camping  sites,  canopy  walk,  nature/eco/forest  trails, board  walks,  landscaping,  watch  towers/machaans,  interpretation centres, rain shelters, eco log huts, adventure/water sports facilities/equipment, solar lighting, signages, last  mile connectivity, public conveniences, sewage treatment plant, open air theatre/amphi-theaters etc. The projects under the scheme are identified for development in  consultation  with  the  State  Government/UT  and  are  sanctioned subject  to  availability  of  funds,  submission  of  suitable  detailed project  reports,  adherence  to  scheme  guidelines  and  utilization  of funds released earlier. The State/UT-wise detail of the projects sanctioned during the financial year 2015-16 and 2016-17 under Swadesh Darshan Scheme is annexed.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5973 ANSWERED ON 10.04.2017 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FOREST TOURISM

THE STATE/UT-WISE DETAIL OF THE PROJECTS SANCTIONED DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2015-16 AND 2016-17 UNDER SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME

(Rs. in crore)

| Sl. No.      | State/UT     | Name of the Circuit      | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | Amt. Sanctioned   | Amount released   |
|--------------|--------------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Year 2015-16 | Year 2015-16 | Year 2015-16             | Year 2015-16                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Year 2015-16      | Year 2015-16      |
| 1.           | Manipur      | North-East India Circuit | Development of Tourist Circuit in Manipur: Imphal- Moirang- Khongjom- Moreh.                                                                                                                                                          | 89.66             | 44.83             |
| 2.           | Sikkim       | North-East India Circuit | Development of Tourist Circuit linking Rangpo (entry) - Rorathang-Aritar- Phadamchen- Nathang-Sherathang- Tsongmo- Gangtok- Phodong-Mangan- Lachung-Yumthang- Lachen- Thangu- Gurudongmer-Mangan- Gangtok-Tumin Lingee-Singtam (exit) | 98.05             | 49.02             |
| 3.           | Uttarakhand  | Eco Circuit              | Integrated Development of Eco- Tourism, Adventure Sports, Associated Tourism related Infrastructure for Development of Tehri Lake & Surroundings as New Destination- District Tehri, Uttarakhand.                                     | 80.37             | 40.19             |
| 4.           | Rajasthan    | Desert Circuit           | Development of Sambhar Lake Town and Other Destinations in                                                                                                                                                                            | 63.96             | 30.70             |

|    |                |                           | Rajasthan under Desert Circuit.                                                                                                                      |       |       |
|----|----------------|---------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|
|  5 | Nagaland       | Tribal Circuit            | Development of Tribal Circuit Peren- Kohima- Wokha, Nagaland                                                                                         | 97.36 | 48.68 |
|  6 | Madhya Pradesh | Wildlife Circuit          | Development of Wildlife Circuit at Panna-Mukundpur- Sanjay-Dubri- Bandhavgarh-Kanha- Mukki-Pench in Madhya Pradesh.                                  | 92.22 | 41.92 |
|  7 | Andhra Pradesh | Coastal Circuit           | Development of Coastal Tourism Circuit in Sri Potti Sriramalu Nellore under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in Andhra Pradesh.                                | 60.38 | 12.08 |
|  8 | Telangana      | Eco Circuit               | Integrated Development of Eco Tourism Circuit in Mahaboobnagar district, Telangana.                                                                  | 91.62 | 18.32 |
|  9 | Kerala         | Eco Circuit               | Development of Pathanamthitta - Gavi - Vagamon - Thekkady as Eco Tourism Circuit in Idduki and Parhanamthitta Districts in Kerala.                   | 99.22 | 19.84 |
| 10 | Mizoram        | North- East India Circuit | Integrated Development of New Eco Tourism under Swadesh Darshan - North East Circuit at Thenzawl & South Zote, District Serchhip and Reiek, Mizoram. | 94.91 | 47.45 |
| 11 | Assam          | Wildlife Circuit          | Development of Manas - Probitora - Nameri - Kaziranga - Dibru - Saikhowa as Wildlife Circuit in Assam.                                               | 95.67 | 19.13 |

| 12.              | Puducherry        | Coastal Circuit           | Development of Union Territory of Puducherry as Tourist Circuit under 'Swadesh Darshan' Scheme (Coastal Circuit)                                                                                              |   85.28 |   17.06 |
|------------------|-------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|
| 13.              | Arunachal Pradesh | North- East India Circuit | Integrated Development of New Adventure Tourism in Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                          |   97.14 |   48.57 |
| 14.              | Tripura           | North- East India Circuit | Development of North East Circuit : Agartala - Sipahijala - Melaghar - Udaipur - Amarpur - Tirthamukh - Mandirghat - Dumboor- NarikelKunja - Gandachara - Ambassa in Tripura                                  |   99.59 |   46.23 |
| 15.              | West Bengal       | Coastal Circuit           | Development of Beach Circuit - Udaipur - Digha - Shankarpur - Tajpur - Mandarmani - Fraserganj - Bakkhlai -Henry Island in West Bengal                                                                        |   85.39 |   17.08 |
| 16.              | Chhattisgarh      | Tribal Circuit            | Development of Tribal Tourism Circuit in Jashpur-Kunkuri- Mainpat- Ambikapur- Maheshpur -Ratanpur- Kurdar-Sarodadadar Gangrel- Kondagaon - Nathyanawagaon - Jagdalpur Chitrakoot - Tirthgarh in Chhattisgarh. |   99.94 |   19.99 |
| 17.              | Maharashtra       | Coastal Circuit           | Development of Sindhudurg Coastal Circuit in Maharashtra under Swadesh Darshan Scheme.                                                                                                                        |   82.17 |   12.79 |
| Total of 2015-16 | Total of 2015-16  | Total of 2015-16          | Total of 2015-16                                                                                                                                                                                              | 1512.93 |  533.88 |
| Year 2016-17 18. | Goa               | Coastal                   | Development of                                                                                                                                                                                                |   99.99 |   45.57 |

|    |                 | Circuit                   | Coastal Circuit (Sinquerim-Baga, Anjuna-Vagator, Morjim-Keri, Aguada Fort and Aguada Jail) in Goa.                                   |       |       |
|----|-----------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|
| 19 | Jammu & Kashmir | Himalayan Circuit         | Integrated Development of Tourism Infrastructure Projects in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.                                         | 82.97 | 16.59 |
| 20 | Telangana       | Tribal Circuit            | Integrated Development of Mulugu-Laknavaram- Medavaram-Tadvai- Damaravi -Mallur - Bogatha Waterfalls as Tribal Circuit in Telangana. | 84.4  | 16.88 |
| 21 | Meghalaya       | North- East India Circuit | Development of Umium (Lake View), U Lum Sohpetbneng Mawdiangdiang - Orchid Lake Resort, Meghalaya.                                   | 99.13 | 19.83 |
| 22 | Madhya Pradesh  | Buddhist Circuit          | Development of Buddhist Circuit in Sanchi-Satna-Rewa- Mandsaur-Dhar in Madhya Pradesh.                                               | 74.94 | 14.99 |
| 23 | Kerala          | Spiritual Circuit         | Development of Sabarimala - Erumeli- Pampa-Sannidhanam as a Spiritual Circuit in District Pathanamthitta, Kerala.                    | 99.99 | 20    |
| 24 | Karnataka       | Coastal Circuit           | Development of Coastal Circuit in Dakshin Kannada Dist, Uttar Kannada Dist & Udupi Dist in Karnataka.                                | 95.67 | 19.13 |
| 25 | Manipur         | Spiritual Circuit         | Development of Spiritual Circuit - Shri                                                                                              | 53.8  | 10.76 |

|    |                |                           | Govindajee Temple, Shri Bijoy Govindajee Temple - Shri Gopinath Temple - Shri Bungshibodon Temple - Shri Kaina Temple, Manipur.                                    |       |       |
|----|----------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|
| 26 | Gujarat        | Heritage Circuit          | Development of Heritage Circuit in Ahmedabad-Rajkot- Porbandar -Bardoli- Dandi in Gujarat.                                                                         | 93.48 | 18.7  |
| 27 | Haryana        | Krishna Circuit           | Development of Tourism Infrastructures at places related to Mahabharata in Kurukshetra, Haryana.                                                                   | 97.35 | 19.47 |
| 28 | Rajasthan      | Krishna Circuit           | Integrated Development of Govind Dev ji temple (Jaipur), Khatu Shyam Ji (Sikar) and Nathdwara (Rajsamand) in Rajasthan.                                            | 91.45 | 18.29 |
| 29 | Sikkim         | North- East India circuit | Development of Tourist Circuit Linking Singtam - Maka-Temi- Bermoik Tokel- Phongia-Namchi - Jorthang-Okharey- Sombaria-Daramdin- Jorethang-Melli (Exit) in Sikkim. | 95.32 | 19.06 |
| 30 | Madhya Pradesh | Heritage circuit          | Development of Heritage Circuit (Gwalior - Orchha - Khajuraho - Chanderi - Bhimbetka - Mandu) Madhya Pradesh                                                       | 99.77 | 19.95 |
| 31 | Kerala         | Spiritual Circuit         | Development of Sree Padmanabha Arnamula-Sabrimala- as a Spiritual Circuit in Kerala                                                                                | 92.44 | 18.49 |
| 32 | Bihar          | Spiritual                 | Development of Jain                                                                                                                                                | 52.39 | 10.48 |

|    |                 | circuit           | Circuit: Vaishali- Arrah-Masad-Patna- Rajgir-Pawapuri- Champapuri as Spiritual Circuit in Bihar.                                                                |       |       |
|----|-----------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|
| 33 | Bihar           | Spiritual circuit | Integrated Development of Kanwaria Route: Sultanganj - Dharmshala- Deoghar under Spiritual circuit in Bihar.                                                    | 52.35 | 10.47 |
| 34 | Odisha          | Coastal circuit   | Development of Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara as Coastal circuit in Odisha.                                                                             | 76.49 | 15.3  |
| 35 | Nagaland        | Tribal circuit    | Development of Tribal circuit (Mokokchung- Tuensang-Mon) in Nagaland                                                                                            | 99.67 | 19.93 |
| 36 | Uttarakhand     | Heritage circuit  | Integrated Development of Heritage Circuit in Kumaon Region - Katarmal -Jogeshwar- Baijnath-Devidhura in Uttarakhand.                                           | 81.94 | 16.39 |
| 37 | Jammu & Kashmir | Himalayan Circuit | Integrated Development of Tourist Facilities at Jammu-Rajouri- Shopian-Pulwama under Himalayan Circuit theme in J&K.                                            | 96.38 | 19.28 |
| 38 | Jammu & Kashmir | Himalayan Circuit | Integrated Development of Tourist Facilities under the Construction of Assets in lieu of those Destroyed in Floods in 2014 under PM Development Package for J&K | 98.7  | 19.74 |

|   39. | Jammu & Kashmir           | Himalayan Circuit   | Integrated Development of Tourist facilities at Mantalai- Sudhmahadev- Patnitop under Himalayan Circuit                                                                                                  |   97.82 |   19.56 |
|-------|---------------------------|---------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|
|    40 | Jammu & Kashmir           | Himalayan Circuit   | Integrated Development of Tourist Facilities at Anantnag- Kishtwar- Pahalgam - Daksum - Ranjit Sagar Dam under Himalayan Circuit Theme in J&K.                                                           |   96.39 |   19.28 |
|    41 | Jammu & Kashmir           | Himalayan Circuit   | Integrated Development of Tourist Facilities at Gulmarg-Baramulla- Kupwara-Leh Circuit under Himalayan Circuit Theme in J&K.                                                                             |   96.93 |   19.38 |
|    42 | Uttar Pradesh             | Buddhist Circuit    | 'Development of Buddhist Circuit - Srawasti, Kushinagar, & Kapilvastu in Uttar Pradesh.                                                                                                                  |   99.97 |   19.99 |
|    43 | Uttar Pradesh             | Ramayana Circuit    | Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur as Ramayana Circuit in Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                          |   69.45 |   13.89 |
|    44 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | Coastal Circuit     | Development of Coastal Circuit (Long Island-Ross Smith Island- Neil Island- Havelock Island- Baratang Island-Port Blair ) in Andaman & Nicobar under Coastal thematic circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme. |   42.19 |    8.44 |
|    45 | Tamil Nadu                | Coastal Circuit     | Development of Coastal Circuit (Chennai- Mamamallapuram -                                                                                                                                                |   99.92 |   19.98 |

|    |               |                   | Rameshwaram - Manpadu - Kanyakumari) in Tamil Nadu under Swadesh Darshan Scheme                                                                                                                                                                         |       |       |
|----|---------------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|
| 46 | Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit | Development of Spiritual Circuit (Shahjahanpur- Allahabad-Basti- Ahar- Aligharh-Kasgunj- Sarosi-Pratapgarh- Unnao-Kaushambi- Mirzapur-Gorakpur- Kairana- Doamriyagunj- Bagpat-Barabanki-                                                                | 76    | 15.2  |
| 47 | Uttar Pradesh | Spiritual Circuit | Development of Spiritual Circuit - II(Bijnor- Meerut- Kanpur- Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra- Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi) in Uttar Pradesh under Swadesh Darshan | 62.96 | 12.59 |
| 48 | Uttar Pradesh | Heritage Circuit  | Scheme Development of Heritage Circuit (Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- Marhar Dham (Sant Kabir Nagar)- Chauri Chaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur)- Mavahar Sthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut) in Uttar Pradesh under Swadesh Darshan Scheme                    | 41.51 |  8.3  |
| 49 | Bihar         | Buddhist Circuit  | Development of Buddhist circuit- Construction of                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 98.73 | 19.75 |

|    |                  |                   | Cultural Centre at Bodhgaya, Bihar                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |       |       |
|----|------------------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|
| 50 | Assam            | Heritage Circuit  | Development of Tezpur - Majuli - Sibsagar as Heritage Circuit in Assam under Swadesh Darshan scheme                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  | 98.35 | 19.67 |
| 51 | Himachal Pradesh | Himalayan Circuit | Integrated Development of Himalayan Circuit in Himachal Pradesh under Swadesh Darshan scheme                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | 99.76 | 19.95 |
| 52 | Mizoram          | Eco Circuit       | Development of Eco- Adventure Circuit Aizawl -Rawpuichhip - Khawhphawp - Lengpui - Durtlang - Chatlang- Sakawrhmuituaitlang - Muthee - Beratlawng -Tuirial Airfield - Hmuifang' under Eco circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan                                                                                                                           | 99.07 | 19.81 |
| 53 | Rajasthan        | Spiritual Circuit | Development of Spiritual Circuit- Churu (Salasar Balaji)- Jaipur (Shri Samode Balaji, Ghatke Balaji, Bandheke Balaji)- Alwar (Pandupole Hanumanji, Bharathari)- Viratnagar (Bijak, Jainnasiya, Ambika Temple)- Bharatpur (Kaman Region)- Dholpur (Muchkund) - Mehandipur Balaji- Chittorgarh (Sanwaliyaji) in Rajasthan under Swadesh Darshan scheme | 93.9  | 18.78 |

| 54.              | Gujarat          | Heritage Circuit   | Development of Heritage circuit: Vadnagar- Modhera and Patan in Gujarat under Swadesh Darshan Scheme   |   99.81 |   15.66 |
|------------------|------------------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|
| Total of 2016-17 | Total of 2016-17 | Total of 2016-17   | Total of 2016-17                                                                                       | 3191.38 |  659.53 |

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