Lok Sabha Question No. 1897 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-14
Subject: Buddhist Circuit in West Bengal Under SDS
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1897 ANSWERED ON 14.03.2022

## BUDDHIST CIRCUIT IN WEST BENGAL UNDER SDS

## 1897. SHRI RAJU BISTA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the details  of  Loan  Guarantee  Scheme  for  Covid  Affected Tourism  Service  Sector  and  the  total  funds  disbursed  and number  of beneficiaries in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal since the start of the scheme;
- (b) the details of sites maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong;
- (c) the details of heritage sites adopted under 'Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan' scheme in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong;
- (d) the  details  of  new  circuits  and  facilities  created  under  the Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  (SDS)  in  the  State  of  West  Bengal during the last three years; and
- (e) whether  the  Ministry  proposes  to  take  cognizance  of  the  fact that  Darjeeling,  Kalimpong  and  Sikkim  are  home  to  important Buddhist  pilgrimage  sites  and  take  initiative  to  start  'Buddhist Heritage Circuit' under SDS and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF TOURISM                                  (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a): As  announcement  by  the  Ministry  of  Finance  on  28.06.2021  to provide relief to the tourism sector, Ministry of Tourism has implemented the "Loan Guarantee Scheme for Covid Affected Tourism Service Sector (LGSCATSS)". Under this loan guarantee scheme, loan upto Rs. 10.00 lakh will be extended to each Tour Operators/ Travel Agents/  Tourist  Transport  Operators  approved/  recognized  by  the Ministry  of  Tourism,  upto  Rs.  1.00  lakh  will  be  extended  to  each Regional Tourist Guide/ Incredible India Tourist Guide

approved/recognized  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  and  Tourist  Guides approved/ recognized by the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.

The purpose of the LGSCATSS of the Ministry of Tourism is to provide guarantee coverage for the loans provided by the Scheduled Commercial Banks to the above mentioned beneficiaries, to discharge their  liabilities  and  restart  their  business  affected  due  to  Covid-19 pandemic.

Validity of the said scheme is till 31.03.2022 or till the guarantee of Rs. 250.00 crores are issued under the scheme, whichever is earlier and would be applicable to all eligible loans sanctioned under the scheme on or after 04.10.2021 [issuance of LGSCATSS guidelines by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC)] till 31.03.2022.

As  per  the  information  received  from  the  National  Credit  Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd (NCGTC) as on 28.02.2022, 114 tourist guides/tourism stakeholders have been sanctioned loans amounting to Rs.1.18 crore (of which Rs.0.78 crore stands disbursed) under LGSCATSS;

No  beneficiary  has  yet  been  provided  support  by  the  Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) in the  districts of Darjeeling & Kalimpong.

- (b):    As per the information received from Archaeological Survey of India  (ASI),  there  are  two  monuments,  namely  (i)  Tomb  of  General Lloyd  and  (ii)  Tomb  of  Alexander  Csoma  De-  Koros  at  Darjelling  in Darjeeling District under protection and care of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
- (c):   No heritage site has been adopted in the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong under "Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan" scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.
- (d) & (e): Identification  and  development  of  tourism  destinations  is primarily  the  responsibility  of  State  Governments/Union  Territories. However, the Ministry of Tourism under its Swadesh Darshan scheme provides financial assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations/Central Agencies for development of tourism

infrastructure in the country.

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 etc.

The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned 1 project in the State of West Bengal and 2 projects in Sikkim under Swadesh Darshan scheme as per the following details:-

(Rs. in Cr.)

| State       | Theme               | Year of Sanction   | Name of Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |   Sanctioned amount |
|-------------|---------------------|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| West Bengal | Coastal Circuit     | 2015-16            | Development of Beach Circuit: Udaipur- Digha- Shankarpur- Tajpur- Mandarmani- Fraserganj-Bakkhlai- Henry Island                                                                                                                          |               67.99 |
| Sikkim      | North- East Circuit | 2015-16            | Development of Tourist Circuit linking Rangpo (entry) - Rorathang- Aritar- Phadamchen- Nathang- Sherathang- Tsongmo- Gangtok-Phodong- Mangan- Lachung-Yumthang- Lachen- Thangu-Gurudongmer- Mangan- Gangtok-Tumin Lingee- Singtam (exit) |               98.05 |
| Sikkim      | North- East Circuit | 2016-17            | Development of Tourist Circuit Linking Singtam- Maka- Temi-Bermoik Tokel- Phongia- Namchi -Jorthang- Okharey- Sombaria-Daramdin- Jorethang- Melli (Exit)                                                                                 |               95.32 |

In  addition,  the Ministry of Tourism has  also sanctioned following 5 projects  under  Buddhist  Theme,  as part of  its  Swadesh Darshan scheme.

(Rs . in Cr.)

| S.No.   | Name of State   | Name of Circuit & Year     | Project Name                                                                                                          |   Sanctioned Amount |
|---------|-----------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|
| 1.      | Madhya Pradesh  | Buddhist Circuit (2016-17) | Development of Sanchi-Satna-Rewa- Mandsaur-Dhar.                                                                      |               74.02 |
| 2.      | Uttar Pradesh   | Buddhist Circuit (2016-17) | Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar & Kapilvastu.                                                                     |               99.97 |
| 3.      | Bihar           | Buddhist Circuit (2016-17) | Construction of Convention Centre at Bodhgaya                                                                         |               98.73 |
| 4.      | Gujarat         | Buddhist circuit (2017-18) | Development of Junagadh- Gir Somnath- Bharuch- Kutch- Bhavnagar- Rajkot- Mehsana                                      |               26.68 |
| 5.      | Andhra Pradesh  | Buddhist Circuit (2017-18) | Development of Buddhist Circuit: Shalihundam- Thotlakonda- Bavikonda- Bojjanakonda- Amravati- Anupu in Andhra Pradesh |               24.14 |
| Total   | Total           | Total                      | Total                                                                                                                 |              323.54 |

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