Lok Sabha Question No. 1805 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-02
Subject: Proposals received from Assam for Central Financial Assistance
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Pallab Lochan Das

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1805 ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020

## PROPOSALS RECEIVED FROM ASSAM FOR CENTRAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

1805. SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that Assam and other North Eastern States have many tourism destinations suitable for development and promotion and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of proposals received from the State of Assam for Central Financial Assistance  (CFA) along with the funds sanctioned, released and utilized;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to promote tourism industry by organizing workshops in sync with the resources in Assam;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of all the undergoing schemes and introduction of any new scheme to boost tourism in North East, especially in Assam?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) to (e): The Ministry of Tourism is focusing on development and promotion of tourism in the North Eastern Region.

For  promotion  of  tourism  in  North  Eastern  region  including Assam the Ministry undertakes following activities:

- (i) Release  of  television  campaigns  on  Doordarshan  and private channels in the country.
- (ii) Production of publicity material, creatives and television commercials/promotional films on the region.
- (iii)   The North East region is the theme of the India Pavilion set  up  by  the  Ministry  at  the  South  Asia  Travel  and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) in which the Ministry participates annually.
- (iv) Complimentary  space  is  provided  to  the  North  Eastern States for their participation in the India Pavilion set up by  the  Ministry  at  major  international  travel  fairs  and exhibitions.
- (v) The  Ministry  organizes  an  annual  International  Tourism Mart  in  the  North  Eastern  region  with  the  objective  of highlighting the tourism potential of the region.

The Ministry under its schemes of Swadesh Drashan, PRASHAD  and  assistance  to  Central  Agencies  provides  financial assistance  to  State  Governments,  Union  Territories  and  central agencies for development of Tourism infrastructure in the country. The projects  under  the  schemes  are  identified  for  development  in consultation with the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable detailed project reports, adherence  to scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier. Submission of project proposals by the State Governments and its sanctioning is a continuous process.

The  details  of  projects  sanctioned  in  Assam  under  above schemes are as follows:

(Rs. in crore)

|   Sl. No. | Scheme / Year of Sanction   | Name of the project                                                                   |   Amt. sanctioned |   Amt. released |
|-----------|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------|
|         1 | Swadesh Darshan (2015-16)   | Development of Wildlife Circuit: Manas- Probitora- Nameri- Kaziranga- Dibru- Saikhowa |             95.67 |           76.54 |
|         2 | Swadesh Darshan (2016-17)   | Development of Heritage Circuit: Tezpur - Majuli - Sibsagar                           |             98.35 |           45.29 |
|         3 | PRASHAD (2015-16)           | Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati      |             30.71 |           22.02 |

| 4.   | Assistance                    | Development of jetties at                                                                                                                                                                | 28.03   | 7.01   |
|------|-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|--------|
|      | to Central Agencies (2019-20) | 9 main points of embarkation and embarkation of river cruise on National Waterway 1&2 (Nemati, Jorhat, Biswanathghat Sonitpur, Silaghat, Nagaon in Assam are covered under this project) |         |        |

Ministry  of  Tourism  from  time  to  time  organizes  workshops, meetings in various states including Assam with State Governments and Stakeholders to create awareness about the various issues and initiatives for development of tourism in the country.

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