Lok Sabha Question No. 302 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-16
Subject: Religious Sites in Uttarakhand
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Ajay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*302 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2020

## RELIGIOUS SITES IN UTTARAKHAND

†*302. SHRI AJAY BHATT:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

(a) whether the religious sites in Uttarakhand have been linked to any spiritual circuit and if so, the details thereof; (b) if not, the time by which various religious sites in Uttarakhand are likely to be linked to the religious circuits; and (c) the  other  steps  taken  or  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Union Government to promote religious tourism in Uttarakhand?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c):   A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*302 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2020 REGARDING RELIGIOUS SITES IN UTTARAKHAND.

(a) and (b): Ministry of Tourism under its schemes viz. 'Integrated development of Theme Based Tourist Circuits- Swadesh Darshan'  and  'National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive' (PRASHAD) provides financial  Assistance  to  the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations for  development  of  tourism  infrastructure  and  facilities  in  the country including Uttarakhand.

Submission of project proposals by the State Governments/UT Administrations under the above schemes is a continuous process. 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.

Based on the above criteria, Ministry has sanctioned following projects in Uttarakhand covering the religious sites:

|   S. No. | Scheme          | Circuit/Year      | Name of Project                                                          |   Amount sanctioned (Rs. in crore) |
|----------|-----------------|-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|       01 | Swadesh Darshan | Heritage/ 2016-17 | Development of Kumaon Region - Katarmal - Jogeshwar - Baijnath-Devidhura |                              79.13 |
|       02 | PRASHAD         | 2015-16           | Integrated Development of Kedarnath                                      |                              34.78 |
|       03 | PRASHAD         | 2018-19           | Development of Badrinath Ji Dham                                         |                              39.24 |

(c): Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  India  as  a  holistic  destination under the Incredible India brand-line. As part of its on -going activities, the  Ministry  annually  releases  print,  electronic,  online  and  outdoor media  campaigns  in  the  international  and  domestic  markets,  to promote  various  tourism  destinations  and  products  of  the  country, including religious sites of Uttarakhand. In addition, the Indiatourism Offices in India and overseas disseminate information and undertake various  promotional  activities  with  the  objective  of  showcasing  the varied tourist destinations and products of the country.

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