Lok Sabha Question No. 73 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-18
Subject: Development of Tourist Locations in NER
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.73

To be answered on

Monday, July 18, 2022/Ashadha 27, 1944 (Saka)

## QUESTION DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST LOCATIONS IN NER

## 73.      SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any plans to develop tourist locations in the NorthEast Region (NER) particularly in Assam, and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  consider  connecting  important  tourist locations in NER, thus creating a tourism trail, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any development plan centring around Dokreswar Dewalay, Chenga in Barpeta District and Bageshwari Temple at Bongaigaon, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the efforts made/being made by the Government to promote the region abroad.

## ANSWER

## The Minister of  the Ministry of Development of  North Eastern Region [SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY]

- (a)  &  (b)  The  Ministry  of  Development  of  North  Eastern  Region  (DoNER)  under  the North  East  Special  Infrastructure  Development  Scheme  (NESIDS)  has  sanctioned infrastructure  projects  relating  to  water  supply,  power,  connectivity  to  support  the tourism sector in the north east region (NER). Under NESIDS, 51 projects amounting to ₹1,647 crore connecting tourist locations in the NER have been sanctioned. Of these, 10 projects amounting to ₹637.14 crore are in the state of Assam.

The North Eastern Council (NEC), Shillong undertakes activities for the promotion of NER and regional tourism, which are priority sectors under the 'Schemes of  NEC'. Under this, the NEC has sanctioned 57 projects amounting ₹249.96 crore in the  tourism  sector  in  the  last  seven  years.  Further,  29  tourist  circuits  have  been identified by NEC and shared with the Ministry of Tourism.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  sanctioned  tourist  circuit  projects,  amounting  to ₹1,254.07 crore in the NER under its 'Swadesh Darshan' scheme since 2014-15. One project has been sanctioned for Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under  the scheme  'Assistance  to  Central  Agencies  for  Tourism  Infrastructure  Development'  by the  Ministry  of  Tourism,  for  development  of  nine  points  of  river  cruise  on  national waterways no. 1 & 2, out of which, four points, namely Neamati, Pandu, Jogighopa and Biswanath  ghat  are  in  Assam.  Further,  since  2014-15  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has provided financial assistance to State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrators for  organizing  fairs  and  festivals  and  tourism  related  events  in  the  NER.  Under  the Central Sector Scheme of 'National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)', the Ministry of Tourism funds projects for the  integrated  development  of  identified  pilgrimage  and  heritage  destinations.  As  on date 69 destinations/sites have been identified for development under the scheme in 30 states/UTs. Of these, 20 sites are in the NER, which include Kamakhya temple and Srikrishnaguru Sevashram, Nasatra in Assam.

(c) No Sir,  currently,  the  central  government  has  no  tourism  development  plans  in these areas.

(d) India Tourism Offices Overseas along with Indian Missions abroad endeavour to position India as a preferred tourism destination and promote various tourism products and destinations including those in the NER and to increase India's share in the global tourism market. The Ministry of Tourism under the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) programme extends financial support to approved tourism service providers and State Governments/UT  Administrators for undertaking tourism promotion in the overseas markets. On the request of the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of External Affairs has Tourism Officers in the Indian Missions of top 20 source markets in 2021. The Ministry  of  Tourism  has  also  conducted  virtual  road  shows  under  the  'Incredible India  Reconnect  2022'  in  Oman,  United  States  of  America,  Germany,  Australia, Singapore,  Thailand,  Spain  and  the  United  Kingdom  to  project  India  as  a  preferred tourism destination.

Various tourism promoting events and festivals etc. such as the 'Sangai Festival', Manipur',  'Behdienkhlam  Festival',  Meghalaya'  and  'Hornbilll  Festival',  Nagaland  are supported  by  NEC  to  attract  tourists  from  different  parts  of  the  country  as  well  as abroad.

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