Lok Sabha Question No. 2340 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-31
Subject: Wildlife and Forest Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: DINESH TRIVEDI, K.R.P. PRABAKARAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2340 ANSWERED ON 31.07.2017

## WILDLIFE AND FOREST TOURISM

## 2340. SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI: SHRI K.R.P. PRABAKARAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  any  scheme  has been formulated to ensure  that wildlife and forest tourism is sustainable in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  scope  of  the  same  in various States/UTs;
- (c) whether  any  scheme  has  been  put  in  place  to  involve  local communities  as  stakeholders  in  the  development  of  sustainable wildlife and forest tourism;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the funds provided by the Government for  promoting  sustainable  wildlife  and  forest  tourism  during  the last three years, State/UT-wise;
- (e) whether  the  wildlife  tourism  is  posing  threat  to  wildlife  and  the welfare of local communities; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government to carry it in a systematic and scientific manner?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (f): For integrated development of Theme-Based Tourist Circuits in  the  country, the Ministry of Tourism has launched Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2014-15. Wildlife Circuit is one of the thirteen thematic circuit identified  for  development  under  this  scheme.  The  details  of  projects sanctioned  under  the  Wildlife  Circuit  of  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  is given below:

(Rs. in Crore)

|   Sl. No. | Name of State   | Year    | Project Name                       |   Amt. Sanctioned |   Amt. Released |
|-----------|-----------------|---------|------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------|
|         1 | Madhya Pradesh  | 2015-16 | Development of Wildlife Circuit at |             92.22 |           46.11 |

|       |       |         | Panna-Mukundpur- Sanjay-Dubri- Bandhavgarh- Kanha-Mukki- Pench.           |        |       |
|-------|-------|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|-------|
| 2.    | Assam | 2015-16 | Development of Manas - Probitora - Nameri - Kaziranga - Dibru - Saikhowa. |  95.67 | 19.13 |
| Total | Total | Total   | Total                                                                     | 187.89 | 65.24 |

In  developing  the  wildlife  circuit,  emphasis  is  on  improving  the quality of tourist facilities available at the parks, improving connectivity, skill  development  of  the  local  population  and  safety  and  security  of tourists. Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  informs  that participation  of  local  communities  living  in  and  around  the  Protected Areas in management of the said areas is encouraged as part of the EcoDevelopment Activities and that the National Tiger Conservation Authority  has  issued  guidelines  for  taking  up  eco-tourism  in  Tiger Reserves. It  is  also  further  informed  that  Tourism  in  Protected  Areas  is undertaken in accordance with provisions of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and activities enshrined in the Management Plans for the Protected Areas.

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