Lok Sabha Question No. 747 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Inclusion of Buddhist Heritage in Buddhist Circuit
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH, K. GOPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.747 ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## INCLUSION OF BUDDHIST HERITAGE IN BUDDHIST CIRCUIT

## 747.  DR. PRABHAS KUMAR SINGH:

- DR. K. GOPAL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government  is aware  of the rich Buddhist Heritage of Odisha;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to include Buddhist heritage in the Buddhist circuit of the country;
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government has identified Stupas and Viharas in twenty one States to develop small intra State Buddhist Zones and to expand Buddhist tourism Circuit and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (e): Buddhist  circuit  is  one  of  the  fifteen  thematic  circuits identified for development under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. All the sites  in  the  country  associated  with  the  Buddhism  including  the ones in Odisha are covered under the circuit.

The projects under the scheme are identified for development in consultation with the State Governments/UT 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  above,  Ministry has sanctioned following projects under Buddhist Circuit theme of Swadesh Darshan Scheme:

(Rs. in Crore)

| Sl. No.   | State & Year             | 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 Buddhist Circuit - 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 Buddhist circuit: Junagadh- Gir- Somnath- Bharuch- Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana in Gujarat under Swadesh Darshan scheme                                         |             35.99 |
| 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 |
| Total     | Total                    | Total                                                                                                                                                                               |            361.97 |

*********