Lok Sabha Question No. 820 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: Wildlife and Forest Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 820 ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## WILDLIFE AND FOREST TOURISM

## 820. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any scheme has been formulated for sustainable wildlife and forest tourism in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  scope  of  the  same  in various States/UTs including Maharashtra;
- (c) whether there is a big potential for wildlife and forest  tourism in the country;
- (d) if  so,  the  steps  taken  to  tap  the  potential  and  promotion  of  the wildlife and forest tourism in the notified Tiger Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries within the country including Maharashtra State;
- (e) whether  any  scheme  has  been  put  in  place  to  involve  local communities  as  stakeholders  in  the  development  of  sustainable wildlife and forest tourism; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the funds provided by the Government for  promoting  sustainable  wildlife  and  forest  tourism  during  the last five years, State/UT-wise including Maharashtra State?

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) to (f): Ministry of Tourism has formulated National Strategies for (i) Sustainable Tourism and (ii) Eco Tourism.

Following  strategic  pillars  have  been  identified  for  development  of

Eco/sustainable tourism:

- (i) Promoting Environmental Sustainability
- (ii)
- (iii)
- Protecting Biodiversity
- Promoting Economic Sustainability
- (iv) Promoting Socio-Cultural Sustainability
- (v) Scheme for Certification of Sustainable Tourism

(vi) IEC and Capacity Building (vii) Governance

Ministry of Tourism under its scheme  of Swadesh  Darshan identified  Wildlife  and  Eco  Circuits  among  fifteen  thematic  circuits  for development. The above circuits cover National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries  and  Reserves  in  the  country.  The  details  of  the  projects sanctioned  under  the  Eco  and  Wildlife  Circuits  of  Swadesh  Darshan Scheme in various States/UTs is at Annexure.

Apart  from  above,  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change (MoEFCC) has informed that they have issued guidelines to all State  Governments/  Union  Territory  Administrations  for  sustainable ecotourism in forest and wildlife areas -2021.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  820  ANSWERED  ON  12.12.2022  REGARDING  WILDLIFE AND FOREST TOURISM

Details  of  project  sanctioned  under  the  Eco  and  Wildlife  Circuits  of Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the country

ECO CIRCUIT

(Amount in Rupees crore)

|   S. No. | Name of State   | Year of sanction   | Project Name                                                                                                                                                  |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |
|----------|-----------------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
|        1 | Uttarakhand     | 2015-16            | Development of Circuit at Tehri- Chamba- Sarain around Tehri Lake.                                                                                            |               69.17 |             65.71 |
|        2 | Telangana       | 2015-16            | Development of Circuit in Mahaboobnagar districts (Somasila, Singotam, Kadalaivanam, Akkamahadevi, Egalanpanta, Farahabad, Uma Maheshwaram, Mallelatheertham) |               91.62 |             87.03 |
|        3 | Kerala          | 2015-16            | Development of Pathanamthitta- Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady.                                                                                                       |               64.08 |             61.24 |
|        4 | Mizoram         | 2016-17            | Development of Eco- Adventure Circuit at Aizawl -Rawpuichhip - Khawhphawp - Lengpui - Durtlang - Chatlang- Sakawrhmuituaitlang                                |               66.37 |             49.53 |

|       |                |         | - Muthee - Beratlawng -Tuirial Airfield - Hmuifang                                                                                          |        |        |
|-------|----------------|---------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|
| 5.    | Madhya Pradesh | 2017-18 | Development of Gandhisagar Dam- Mandleshwar Dam- Omkareshwar Dam- Indira Sagar Dam- Tawa Dam- Bargi Dam- BhedaGhat- Bansagar Dam- Ken River |  93.92 |  88.58 |
| 6.    | Jharkhand      | 2018-19 | Development of Dalma- Chandil- Getalsud- BetlaNational park- Mirchaiya- Netarhat                                                            |  30.11 |  26.37 |
| Total | Total          | Total   | Total                                                                                                                                       | 415.27 | 378.47 |

## WILDLIFE CIRCUIT

(Amount in Rupees in crore)

| S.No.   | Name of State   | Year of sanction   | Project Name                                                                                 |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |
|---------|-----------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
| 1.      | Madhya Pradesh  | 2015-16            | Development of Circuit at Panna- Mukundpur- Sanjay- Dubri- Bandhavgarh- Kanha- Mukki- Pench. |               92.1  |             86.31 |
| 2.      | Assam           | 2015-16            | Development of Manas - Pobitora - Nameri - Kaziranga - Dibru - Saikhowa.                     |               94.68 |             89.94 |
| Total   | Total           | Total              | Total                                                                                        |              186.78 |            176.25 |

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