Lok Sabha Question No. 3478 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-16
Subject: Promotion of Eco-Tourism in Odisha and West Bengal
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal, Kunar Hembram, Jual Oram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3478 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2020

## PROMOTION OF ECO-TOURISM IN ODISHA AND WEST BENGAL

3478. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL: SHRI KUNAR HEMBRAM: SHRI JUAL ORAM:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  promote  ecotourism in various States of the country;
- (b) if so, the spots identified in such States including Odisha and West Bengal;
- (c) whether there is a vast scope to promote ecotourism in Odisha and West Bengal; and
- (d) if so, the details of other measures/steps taken to develop and boost  eco-tourism  in  various  States  of  the  country  including Odisha and West Bengal?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  the  Swadesh Darshan Scheme for the development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities in the country. Recognizing the potential  for  the  development  of  Eco  tourism  in  the  country,  the Ministry  of  Tourism  has  identified  'Eco  Circuit'  as  one  of  the  15 thematic circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

The projects under the Swadesh Darshan scheme 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.  No proposal  has  so  far  been  received  by  the  Ministry  from  Govt  of Odisha  &  West  Bengal  for  development  of  under  Eco  Tourism. However  the  Ministry  has  sanctioned  Development  of  Coastal and Tampara in Odisha during 2016-17 & Development of Coastal /Beach Circuit  which  comprises  of  Udaipur,  Digha,  Shankarpur,  Tajpur, Island

Circuits which comprises of Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada Mandarmani, Fraserganj, Bakkhali, Henry in West Bengal during 2015-16.

The details of projects sanctioned under the Eco Circuit theme of  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  in  the  country  and  Coastal  Circuit theme in Odisha & West Bengal are annexed.

In addition to above, Ministry has taken several steps to boost Eco-tourism in the country which inter-alia include the following:

- (i) Evolved  &  adopted  Comprehensive  Sustainable  Tourism Criteria for India (STCI) for three major segments of the tourism industry, namely accommodation, tour operators, Beaches, Backwaters, Lakes & Rivers sectors, applicable for the entire country.
- (ii) Guidelines for approval of Hotel Projects at the implementation stage and also for Classification/Reclassification of operational hotels under various categories mandate incorporation of various eco-friendly measures  like  installation  of  Sewage  Treatment  Plant, Rain water Harvesting, Waste Management  System, Pollution Control and Introduction of non Chlorofluorocarbon  equipment  for  refrigeration  and  air conditioners, energy and water conservation measures.
- (iii) Promoting Eco-Tourism, inter-alia  through  domestic  and international campaigns and also by supporting seminars, conference and events focusing on development of Eco-Tourism in the country, from time to time.

********

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) TO (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3478 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2020 REGARDING  PROMOTION  OF  ECO-TOURISM  IN  ODISHA  AND  WEST BENGAL

THE  DETAILS  OF  PROJECTS  SANCTIONED  UNDER  ECO  TOURISM CIRCUIT  OF  SWADESH  DARSHAN  SCHEME  IN  THE  COUNTRY  AND COASTAL CIRCUIT THEME IN ODISHA AND WEST BENGAL

|   Sl. No | State / Year of Sanction / Theme of Circuit   | Project                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|----------|-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Uttarakhand 5115 - 11 ECO CIRCUIT             | Development of Eco Circuit: Tehri Lake & Surroundings - Sirain - Koti - Chamba - New Tehri                                                                                                            |
|        2 | Telangana 5115 - 11 ECO CIRCUIT               | Development of Eco Circuit: Somasila Reservoir - Singotam Reservoir - Akka Mahadevi Caves - Kadali Yanam - Srisailam - Farahabad - Mallelateertham - Uma Maheshwari Temple in Mahaboobnagar District. |
|        3 | Kerala 5115 - 11 ECO CIRCUIT                  | Development of Eco Circuit: Angamoozhy - Kochandy Zone - Arnamudi - Echopara - Kochumpamba - Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady in Idduki and Pathanamthitta Districts                                           |
|        4 | Mizoram 2016-17 ECO CIRCUIT                   | Development of Eco Circuit : Aizawl -Rawpuichhip - Khawhphawp - Lengpui - Durtlang - Chatlang- Sakawrhmuituaitlang - Muthee - Beratlawng -Tuirial Airfield - Hmuifang                                 |
|        5 | Madhya Pradesh                                | Development of Eco Circuit :                                                                                                                                                                          |

|    | 5112 - 11 ECO CIRCUIT               | Gandhisagar Dam- Mandleshwar Dam- Omkareshwar Dam- Indira Sagar Dam- Tawa Dam- Bargi Dam- Bheda Ghat- Bansagar Dam- Ken River                 |
|----|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  6 | Jharkhand 5111 - 11 ECO CIRCUIT     | Development of Eco Circuit : Dalma- Makulakocha - Pendrabeda - Chandil- Getalsud- Betla National Park- Mirchaiya- koel River point - Netarhat |
|  7 | Odisha 2016-17 COASTAL CIRCUIT      | Development of Coastal Circuit: Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara                                                                        |
|  8 | West Bengal 2015-16 COASTAL CIRCUIT | Development of Beach Circuit: Udaipur- Digha- Shankarpur- Tajpur- Mandarmani- Fraserganj- Bakkhali-Henry Island                               |

**************