Lok Sabha Question No. 130 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-01
Subject: Status of Buddhist Circuit Plan
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal, Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*130 ANSWERED ON 01.07.2019

## STATUS OF BUDDHIST CIRCUIT PLAN

*130. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL: SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

(a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Government  is  set  to  expand Buddhist  tourism  circuit  in  21  more  States  and  if  so,  the details  thereof  along  with  the  current  status  of  the  Buddhist Circuit Plan; (b) whether  it  is  also  a  fact  that  the  Government  has  identified Stupas and Viharas in these States, around which small intraState Buddhist zones will be developed and if so, the details thereof; and (c) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  decision  to  include Kapilvastu in the Buddhist Circuit plans and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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.*130 ANSWERED ON 01.07.2019 REGARDING STATUS OF BUDDHIST CIRCUIT PLAN.

(a) to (c): Buddhist  Circuit  is  one  of  the  fifteen  thematic  circuits identified  for  development under the Swadesh Darshan- Integrated Development of Theme-Based Tourism Circuits Scheme of Ministry of  Tourism.  All  sites  in  the  country  related  to  Buddhism  including Kapilvastu are covered under the Buddhist Circuit for development.

The  projects  for  development  under  the  above  scheme  are identified in consultation with the State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations and are sanctioned subject to submission of detailed project reports, their adherence to scheme guidelines, availability of funds and submission of utilization certificates for the funds released earlier.

The  list  of  projects  sanctioned  by  the  Ministry  to  various States/UTs for development of tourism destinations including Kapilvastu under the Buddhist circuit theme are as below:

(Amt. in crore)

|   S. No. | State/ Year of sanction   | Project Name                                                                                      |   Amt. Sanctioned |
|----------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|        1 | Madhya Pradesh (2016-17)  | Development of Buddhist Circuit in Sanchi-Satna-Rewa-Mandsaur-Dhar in Madhya Pradesh.             |             74.94 |
|        2 | Uttar Pradesh (2016-17)   | Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar, & Kapilvastu in Uttar Pradesh.                               |             99.97 |
|        3 | Bihar (2016-17)           | Construction of Convention Centre adjacent to Maya Sarovar on the western side at Bodhgaya, Bihar |             98.73 |
|        4 | Gujarat (2017-18)         | Development of Junagadh- Gir- Somnath- Bharuch-Kutch-                                             |             35.99 |

|    |                                                          | Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana in Gujarat                                                                                                                                                  |        |
|----|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| 5. | Andhra Pradesh (2017-18)                                 | Development of Buddhist Circuit: Shalihundam-Thotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati- Anupu in Andhra Pradesh under the theme of Buddhist Circuit of Swadesh Darshan Scheme     |  52.34 |
| 6. | Development of Wayside Amenities (Sub- Scheme) (2018-19) | Development of Wayside Amenities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar at Varanasi-Gaya; Gorakhpur- Kushinagar; Kushinagar-Gaya- Kushinagar; Lucknow-Ayodhya- Lucknow in collaboration with MoRTH |  19.75 |
|    |                                                          | Total                                                                                                                                                                                  | 361.97 |

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