Lok Sabha Question No. 2817 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-21
Subject: Proposals from States to Add New Tourist Spots in Tourist Circuits
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Sudhakar Tukaram Shrangre, Arun Sao, Ranjeeta Koli, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Sunil Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +2817

## ANSWERED ON 21.03.2022

## PROPOSALS FROM STATES TO ADD NEW TOURIST SPOTS IN TOURIST CIRCUITS

## +2817. SHRI SUDHAKAR TUKARAM SHRANGARE:

SHRI ARUN SAO:

SHRIMATI RANJEETA KOLI:

SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether tourism industry has been severely affected by COVID-19 pandemic;
- (b) if  so,  the details thereof along with the corrective measures being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Union Government has received any proposal for the Government of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat and Jharkhand to add new tourist destinations under tourist circuits and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the present status of the proposals received along with the decision taken by the Government on the said proposals;
- (e) whether the Union Government has allocated funds to various State Governments to develop new tourist destinations in their respective states during the last three years; and
- (f) if  so,  the  State-wise/Union  Territory  wise  details  thereof  including Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat and
- Jharkhand?

MINISTER OF TOURISM

## ANSWER

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. It is a fact that the tourism industry has been severely affected  by  COVID-19  pandemic.  The  details  of  various  fiscal  and  non- fiscal relief measures announced by the Government of India, which are expected to assist the tourism industry are given at Annexure I. (c) to (f): The Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance under the schemes  of  'Swadesh  Darshan'  and  'National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual,  Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' for development of tourism infrastructure in the country further to submission of complete project proposals by the State Governments/Union Territories, including Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat and  Jharkhand.  This  is  a  continuous  process  and  the  projects  are sanctioned subject to availability of funds, submission of suitable Detailed Project Reports, adherence to scheme guidelines and utilization of funds released earlier. The details of proposals sanctioned and funds released under  these  schemes  to  various  State  Governments/Union  Territories, including Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat and Jharkhand in the last three years is given at Annexure II.

*******

## ANNEXURE- I

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +2817 ANSWERED ON 21.03.2022 REGARDING PROPOSALS

FROM STATES TO ADD NEW TOURIST SPOTS IN TOURIST CIRCUITS

The  following  are  the  various  fiscal  relief  measures  announced  by  the Government, expected to benefit the Indian Tourism Industry:

- i. The Government announced Atmanirbhar Bharat Package vide which Rs.3.00  lakh  crore  collateral  free  automatic  loan  has  been  made available for MSMEs. The loan will have 4- year tenure and 12-month moratorium.
- ii. The  Government  waived  off  PF  contribution  for  three  months  for organisations  with  less  than  100  pax  and  90%  of  their  employees earn below Rs.15000.
- iii. Under Atmanirbhar Bharat package, PF contribution of both employer and employee has been reduced to 10% each from existing 12% each for all establishments covered by EPFO for three months
4. iv.
5. Deferment of TCS up to October 2020.
- v. Return  filing  deferred  for  three  months  with  no  penal  interest  for companies up to Rs.5.00 Crore, rest @ 9% penal interest.
7. The  Central  government  also  gave  relief  from  various  regulatory compliances under Income Tax Act, companies Act and GST Act for varying  period  in  the  wake  of  COVID-19  crisis  to  ensure  business
- vi. continuity and survival.
- vii. The RBI extended moratorium on term loans till 31 st  December 2020.
- viii. The Central Government has also given relief from various regulatory compliances under Income Tax Act, Companies Act and GST Act for varying  periods  in  the  wake  of  Covid-19  crisis  to  ensure  business continuity and survival.
- ix. The  Government  announced  the  Emergency  Credit  Line  Guarantee Scheme  (ECLGS)  3.0  on  31.3.2021  to  support  eligible  Micro,  Small and Medium  Enterprises (MSMEs) and business enterprises in meeting their operational liabilities and restarting their business. The scope of the scheme was enlarged to cover business enterprises in Hospitality,  Travel  &  Tourism  and  Leisure  &  Sporting  sectors.  The validity of ECLGS (ECLGS 1.0, ECLGS 2.0 & ECLGS 3.0) was extended up  to  30.06.2021  or  till  guarantees  for  an  amount  of  Rs.  3.00  lakh crore are issued. Last date of disbursement under the scheme was extended to 30.09.2021. The details of guarantees issued under the scheme are given below:
- x. Ministry of Finance has given concurrence to release Service Exports from  India  Scheme  (SEIS)  scrips  on  16.06.2021.  Earlier,  several Industry  stakeholders  had  flagged  appeals  to  the  Government  to release SEIS Scrips for 2019-20 and DGFT had put a detailed proposal for  the  allocation  for  SEIS for exports made during 2019-20. Taking all  circumstances  into  account,  the  Department  of  Expenditure, Ministry of  Finance  has  given  concurrence  to  the  proposal  of Department of Commerce for continuation of SEIS for 2019-20 with a financial allocation of Rs.2061 crore subject to the condition that the amount  will  be  provided  through  Expenditure  Budget  following  the procedure of providing a New Minor Head.
- xi. On 28 th  June 2021, the Government announced a stimulus package to boost  diverse  sectors  of  economy  affected  by  COVID-19  pandemic and  provide  impetus  for  growth  and  employment  measures.  The package comprises a total of 17 measures in three broad categories, which included  'Economic  relief  from  Pandemic,  with  special  focus on  health  and  reviving  travel  and  tourism  sectors'  and  'Impetus  for Growth and employment'.
- xii. Operational Recommendations for safe resumption of business with easing of lockdown  restrictions have been issued for various segments  of  the  travel and  hospitality industry and  circulated amongst all stakeholders.
- xiii. With a view to prepare for a post-COVID 19 revival, the Ministry has formulated  and  issued  detailed  operational  guidelines  for  Covid safety  and  hygiene  for  hotels,  restaurants,  B&Bs/Homestays  and Tourism Service Providers on 08.06.2020 to facilitate smooth resumption of business. xiv. An  initiative  called  SAATHI  (System  for  Assessment,  Awareness  & Training  for  Hospitality  Industry)  has  been  developed  for  effective implementation of Guidelines/SOPs issued with reference to COVID19 and beyond for safe operations of Hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and other units. xv. With an aim to incentivize stakeholders in the Tourism industry, the Guidelines for the scheme of Market Development Assistance (MDA) for  providing  financial  support  to  stakeholders  for  the  promotion  of Domestic  Tourism  have  been  modified  to  enhance  the  scope  and reach  of  the  scheme,  so  as  to  provide  maximum  benefits  to  the stakeholders. Additional promotional activities have been incorporated including online promotions and the extent of financial assistance permissible has been enhanced. xvi. Validity of approval or certification of hotels and other accommodation units whose project approval/re-approval and classification/re-classification have expired/were likely to expire has been extended up to 31 st  March 2022. The Guidelines of the Marketing Development Assistance Programme under  the  Overseas  Promotion  and  Publicity  Scheme  has  been modified  to  enhance  the  scope  and  reach  of  the  scheme,  so  as  to tourism
- xvii. provide maximum  benefits  to the stakeholders in the industry.

| Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) Tourism and Hospitality Scheme wise data as on 31.01.2022   | Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) Tourism and Hospitality Scheme wise data as on 31.01.2022   | Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) Tourism and Hospitality Scheme wise data as on 31.01.2022   | Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) Tourism and Hospitality Scheme wise data as on 31.01.2022   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Industry Nature                                                                                            | Support Under                                                                                              | No. of Guarantees Issued                                                                                   | Amount of Guarantees issued on account of loans sanctioned under the scheme (in Rs. crore)                 |
| Travel and Tourism                                                                                         | ECLGS 3.0                                                                                                  | 3,092                                                                                                      | 1,696.42                                                                                                   |
| Hospitality                                                                                                | ECLGS 3.0                                                                                                  | 3,853                                                                                                      | 6,841.91                                                                                                   |
| Hotels, Restaurants, Tourism                                                                               | ECLGS 2.0                                                                                                  | 220                                                                                                        | 3,426.40                                                                                                   |
| Tourism, Hotels & Restaurants                                                                              | ECLGS 1.0                                                                                                  | 96,550                                                                                                     | 3,569.68                                                                                                   |
| Total                                                                                                      |                                                                                                            | 1,03,715                                                                                                   | 15,534.41                                                                                                  |

*****

## ANNEXURE- II

STATEMENT IN REPLY OF PARTS (c) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +2817 ANSWERED ON 21.03.2022 REGARDING PROPOSALS FROM STATES TO ADD NEW TOURIST SPOTS IN TOURIST CIRCUITS

State  wise  details  of  projects  sanctioned  under  the  Swadesh  Darshan scheme:

(Rs. in crore)

| S. No   | State / UTs                | Swadesh Darshan   | Swadesh Darshan   | Swadesh Darshan   | Swadesh Darshan   |
|---------|----------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|         |                            | No. of Projects   | Amt. Sanctioned   | Amount released   | Amount utilised   |
| 1.      | Andhra Pradesh             | 3                 | 141.53            | 141.77            | 137.83            |
| 2.      | Arunachal Pradesh          | 2                 | 146.49            | 124.05            | 124.05            |
| 3.      | Assam                      | 2                 | 185.66            | 162.72            | 157.68            |
| 4.      | Bihar                      | 5                 | 272.85            | 235.67            | 214.03            |
| 5.      | Chhattisgarh               | 1                 | 96.10             | 84.81             | 79.15             |
| 6.      | Goa                        | 2                 | 197               | 187.14            | 181.37            |
| 7.      | Gujarat                    | 3                 | 176.21            | 165.74            | 153.22            |
| 8.      | Haryana                    | 1                 | 97.35             | 77.88             | 69.53             |
| 9.      | Himachal Pradesh           | 1                 | 80.69             | 64.55             | 46.74             |
| 10.     | Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh | 6                 | 522.35            | 396.04            | 338.53            |
| 11.     | Jharkhand                  | 1                 | 52.72             | 15.07             | 11.30             |
| 12.     | Kerala                     | 5                 | 410.89            | 182.66            | 142.39            |
| 13.     | Madhya Pradesh             | 4                 | 350.67            | 315.26            | 314.70            |
| 14.     | Maharashtra                | 2                 | 73.07             | 42.11             | 29.48             |
| 15.     | Manipur                    | 2                 | 126.03            | 104.36            | 104.16            |
| 16.     | Meghalaya                  | 2                 | 184.1             | 140.12            | 129.68            |
| 17.     | Mizoram                    | 2                 | 158.63            | 137.18            | 139.77            |
| 18.     | Nagaland                   | 2                 | 195.5             | 185.73            | 169.03            |
| 19.     | Odisha                     | 1                 | 70.82             | 56.65             | 52.94             |
| 20.     | Punjab                     | 1                 | 91.55             | 47.39             | 34.30             |
| 21.     | Rajasthan                  | 4                 | 292.2             | 236.62            | 225.04            |
| 22.     | Sikkim                     | 2                 | 193.37            | 177.95            | 168.8             |
| 23.     | Tamil Nadu                 | 1                 | 73.13             | 69.48             | 68.59             |
| 24.     | Telangana                  | 3                 | 268.39            | 233.53            | 191.65            |

| 25.   | Tripura                   |   2 |   147.85 |   78.68 |   69.79 |
|-------|---------------------------|-----|----------|---------|---------|
| 26.   | Uttar Pradesh             |   8 |   497.81 |  439.08 |  383.05 |
| 27.   | Uttarakhand               |   2 |   145.49 |  133.33 |  132.67 |
| 28.   | West Bengal               |   1 |    67.99 |   68.31 |   64.96 |
| 29.   | Andaman & Nicobar Islands |   1 |    27.57 |   13.46 |   12.29 |
| 30.   | Puducherry                |   3 |   148.31 |  136.69 |  114.4  |
| 31.   | Wayside Amenities         |   1 |    15.07 |   12.29 |   11.05 |
| Total | Total                     |  76 |  5507.4  | 4466.32 | 4072.17 |

## State wise details of projects sanctioned under the PRASHAD Scheme:

| Sl. No.                  | State/UTs                | Project Nos.             | Name of the Project                                                                | Year of Sanction   | Approved cost   | Amount Released   |
|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| List of ongoing projects | List of ongoing projects | List of ongoing projects | List of ongoing projects                                                           |                    |                 |                   |
| 1.                       | Andhra Pradesh           | 1.                       | Development of Amaravati Town, Guntur District as a Tourist Destination**          | 2015-16            | 27.77           | 27.77             |
| 1.                       | Andhra Pradesh           | 2.                       | Development of Srisailam Temple**                                                  | 2017-18            | 43.08           | 43.08             |
| 2.                       | Arunachal Pradesh        | 3.                       | Development of Parasuram Kund, LohitDistt.                                         | 2020-21            | 37.88           | 7.34              |
| 3.                       | Assam                    | 4.                       | Development of Kamakhya Temple and Pilgrimage Destination in and around Guwahati** | 2015-16            | 29.80           | 29.80             |
| 4.                       | Bihar                    | 5.                       | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple, Gaya, Bihar**                 | 2014-15            | 4.27            | 2.91              |
| 4.                       | Bihar                    | 6.                       | Development at Patna Sahib**                                                       | 2015-16            | 41.54           | 33.23             |
| 5.                       | Chhattisgarh             | 7.                       | Development of Maa Bamleshwari Devi Temple, Rajnandgaon,                           | 2020-21            | 43.33           | 21.45             |

|     |                 |    | Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh                                                              |         |       |                         |
|-----|-----------------|----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|-------|-------------------------|
| 6.  | Gujarat         |  8 | Development of Dwarka**                                                               | 2016-17 | 13.08 | 10.46                   |
|     |                 |  9 | Pilgrimage Amenities at Somnath**                                                     | 2016-17 | 45.36 | 45.36                   |
|     |                 | 10 | Development of Promenade at Somnath under PRASHAD Scheme**                            | 2018-19 | 47.12 | 44.76                   |
|     |                 | 11 | Development of Pilgrim Plaza with Queue Management Complex at Somnath Gujarat         | 2021-22 | 49.97 | Adm. Appl only 10.03.22 |
| 7.  | Haryana         | 12 | Development of Nada Saheb Gurudwara and Mata Mansha Devi Temple in Panchkula District | 2019-20 | 49.52 | 28.77                   |
| 8.  | Jammu & Kashmir | 13 | Development at Hazratbal,                                                             | 2016-17 | 40.46 | 32.37                   |
| 9.  | Jharkhand       | 14 | Development of BaidyanathjiDham, Deoghar                                              | 2018-19 | 39.13 | 31.23                   |
| 10. | Kerala          | 15 | Development at Guruvayur Temple**                                                     | 2016-17 | 46.14 | 36.91                   |
|     | Madhya Pradesh  | 16 | Development of Omkareshwar                                                            | 2017-18 | 44.83 | 35.87                   |
| 11. |                 | 17 | Development of Amarkantak                                                             | 2020-21 | 49.99 | 4.86                    |
| 12. | Maharashtra     | 18 | Development of Trimbakeshwar                                                          | 2017-18 | 37.81 | 19.28                   |
| 13. | Meghalaya       | 19 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation in Meghalaya                                   | 2020-21 | 29.32 | 8.80                    |
| 14. | Nagaland        | 20 | Development of Pilgrimage Infrastructure in Nagaland                                  | 2018-19 | 25.26 | 20.06                   |

|   15. | Odisha      |   21. | Infrastructure Development at Puri, Shree Jagannath Dham - Ramachandi - Prachi River front at Deuli under Mega Circuit   | 2014-15   |   50.00 | 10.00                   |
|-------|-------------|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|---------|-------------------------|
|    16 | Punjab      |    22 | Development of Karuna Sagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar **                                                                 | 2015-16   |    6.4  | 6.40                    |
|    16 | Punjab      |    23 | Development of Chamkaur Sahib at Rupar, Punjab under PRASHAD Scheme                                                      | 2021-22   |   31.57 | Adm. Appl only 10.03.22 |
|    17 | Rajasthan   |    24 | Integrated Development of Pushkar/Ajmer                                                                                  | 2015-16   |   32.64 | 26.11                   |
|    18 | Sikkim      |    25 | Development of Pilgrimage Facilitation at Four Patron Saints, Yuksom                                                     | 2020-21   |   33.32 | 18.50                   |
|    19 | Tamil Nadu  |    26 | Development of Kanchipuram**                                                                                             | 2016-17   |   13.99 | 13.99                   |
|    19 | Tamil Nadu  |    27 | Development of Vellankani**                                                                                              | 2016-17   |    4.86 | 4.86                    |
|    20 | Telangana   |    28 | Development of Jogulamba Devi Temple, Alampur                                                                            | 2020-21   |   36.73 | 10.27                   |
|    21 | Tripura     |    29 | Development of Tripura Sundari Temple, Udaipur                                                                           | 2020-21   |   37.84 | 10.59                   |
|    22 | Uttarakhand |    30 | Integrated Development of Kedarnath**                                                                                    | 2015-16   |   34.77 | 34.77                   |
|    22 | Uttarakhand |    31 | Development of Infrastructure for Pilgrimage Facilitation in Badrinath Ji Dham                                           | 2018-19   |   39.24 | 20.79                   |

|     |               |     | (Uttarakhand) under PRASHAD Scheme                                                                                      |         |         |        |
|-----|---------------|-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------|--------|
|     |               | 32. | Augmentation of Pilgrimage Infrastructure Facilities and Gangotri and YamunotriDham in Uttarakhand under PRASHAD Scheme | 2021-22 |   54.36 |  14.06 |
| 23. | Uttar Pradesh | 33. | Development of Mathura-Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II)**                                                      | 2014-15 |   14.93 |  10.38 |
|     |               | 34. | Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan, Distt. Mathura**                                              | 2014-15 |    9.36 |   9.36 |
|     |               | 35. | Development of Varanasi-Phase-I**                                                                                       | 2015-16 |   20.4  |  16.32 |
|     |               | 36. | Cruise Tourism in River Ganga, Varanasi                                                                                 | 2017-18 |   10.72 |   8.57 |
|     |               | 37. | Development of Varanasi Under Prashad Scheme - Phase II                                                                 | 2017-18 |   44.6  |  31.77 |
|     |               | 38. | Development of Infrastructure facilities at Govardhan, Mathura, UP                                                      | 2018-19 |   39.74 |  30.97 |
| 24. | West Bengal   | 39. | Development of Belur                                                                                                    | 2016-17 |   30.03 |  23.39 |
|     |               |     | Total                                                                                                                   |         | 1291.16 | 785.42 |

** Physical execution of the project complete.

******