Lok Sabha Question No. 52 (STARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Development of Sabarimala
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*52 ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## DEVELOPMENT OF SABARIMALA

- *52.  SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that Rs.80 crore out of a total of Rs.100 crore that was allotted by the Union Government for the development of Sabarimala under  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  lapsed  on December 31,2022; (b) if so, the reasons leading to this situation along with the details of  the  master  plan  submitted  by  the  State  Government  on Sabarimala and if not, the reasons therefor; (c) the steps taken by the Government to direct the State authorities  for  the  utilisation  of  the  fund  before  the  stipulated deadline; whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  projects  costing Rs.20 crore as per the master plan of Sabarimala have not been
- (d) completed yet; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*52 ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF SABARIMALA.

- (a) to (e): The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned a project 'Develop ment  of  Sabarimala -Erumeli -Pampa -Sann idhanam' in 2016-17  for  an  amount  of  Rs.99.99  Cr.  The  completion  date  of  this project was December, 2022. In addition, the Ministry of Tourism also sanctioned  a  project 'Development of  Sree  Padmanabha-  AranmulaSabrimala in 2016-17 for Rs.92.44 Cr., which also included development work at Sabarimala. The development work of Rs. 6.10 Crore  (plus  contingency/consultancy)  sanctioned  at  Sabarimala  site was dropped from the second project and added to the first project i.e. 'Development of  Sabarimala -Erumeli -Pampa -Sannidhanam', thus elevating the sanctioned cost of this project to Rs.106.42 Cr.

'Development of  Sabarimala -Erumeli -Pampa -Sannidhanam' project was reviewed by the Ministry of Tourism in August, 2022 and the Ministry of Tourism noted no progress in respect of the components for Rs.49.10 Crore and thereafter on  the request of  the State  Government,  the  said  project  was  revised  in  October,  2022  to Rs.54.88 Crore. Details of the project sanctioned for Rs.106.41 Crore and later revised to Rs. 54.88 Crore is tabulated as under:-

| Destination                 |   Sanctioned amount (Rs. in Crore) |   Revised sanction amount (Rs. in Crore) |
|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Sabrimala Temple - Erumeli  |                               2.8  |                                     2.8  |
| Pampa                       |                              32.97 |                                    11.07 |
| Trekking Path               |                              26.56 |                                    20.23 |
| Sannidham                   |                              32.9  |                                    16.01 |
| Sabrimala (transferred from |                               6.12 |                                     2.16 |
| Contingency                 |                               3.04 |                                     1.57 |
| Consultancy                 |                               2.02 |                                     1.04 |
| Total                       |                             106.41 |                                    54.88 |

Timely  completion  of  the  sanctioned  project  and  implementation  of master plan is the responsibility of the State Government. However, the Ministry of Tourism regular monitors the progress of the projects to ensure  its  speedy  completion.  There  is  a recorded  physical progress of  75%  in  respect  of  revised 'Development of  Sabarimala -Erumeli -Pampa -Sannidhanam' project.

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