Lok Sabha Question No. 1069 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Development of Tourism in Mithila Region
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Gopal Jee Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. +1069 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024

## DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN MITHILA REGION

## +1069 SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has implemented any schemes/programs to provide assistance for the development of tourism in North Bihar (Mithila Region)
- (b) whether there are dozens of historical and religious sites in Mithila region  that  need  to  be  preserved,  promoted  and  developed  as tourist destinations, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  details  of  funds  allocated  by  the  Government  to  promote tourism in Bihar State during the last five years; and
- (d) the district-wise and scheme-wise details of the projects sanctioned and funds allocated and utilized along with the outline of tourism development in Bihar State during the last five years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a)  to  (d):  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  through  its  ongoing  central  sector schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan' and 'PRASHAD' complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development by extending financial assistance to  the  State  Governments/UT  Administrations.  Under  the  Swadesh Darshan scheme, the Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned 05 projects for Rs.262.72  Crore  and  under  PRASHAD  scheme  Ministry  has  already sanctioned  02  Projects  for  Rs.45.17  Crore  in  the  State  of  Bihar.  The details of the above mentioned projects are annexed.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  recently  revamped  the  Swadesh  Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a destination & tourism-centric approach. In consultation with the States/UTs  and  in  line  with  the  scheme  guidelines,  the  Ministry  has accordingly  identified  57  destinations  in  the  country  for  development under SD 2.0 including 'Gaya' & 'Nalanda' in Bihar. Further, the Ministry of Tourism has also issued guidelines for 'Challenge Based Destination Development' (CBDD), a sub-scheme under Swadesh Darshan  2.0,  under  which  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  identified  42 destinations  for  development  including  'Bhagalpur'  and  'Saran  District (Sonepur  Fair)'  under  Culture  &  Heritage  Destinations  category  in  the State of Bihar. In  order to promote tourism, the Ministry provides financial assistance to State Governments/UTs for organising Fairs & Festivals and Tourism Related  Event.  The  Ministry  has  sanctioned  Rs.25.00  Lakh  each  for

Sonepur Fair and Rajgir Mahotsav in the year 2019-20.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.+1069  ANSWERED  ON  29.07.2024  DEVELOPMENT  OF TOURISM IN MITHILA REGION RAISED BY SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR

(i)  DETAIL  OF  PROJECTS  SANCTIONED  UNDER  IDENTIFIED  THEMATIC CIRCUITS OF SWADESH DARSHAN SCHEME IN THE STATE OF BIHAR.

(Amount in ₹ crore)

|   S. No. | State/ UT   | Circuit / Sanction Year    | Name of the Project                                                            |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |   Amount Utilised |
|----------|-------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|        1 | Bihar       | Tirthankar Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Vaishali- Arrah- Masad- Patna- Rajgir- Pawapuri- Champapuri     |               33.96 |             30.04 |             29.36 |
|        2 | Bihar       | Spiritual Circuit 2016-17  | Development of Kanwaria Route: Sultanganj - Dharmshala- Deoghar                |               44.76 |             42.52 |             42.17 |
|        3 | Bihar       | Buddhist Circuit 2016-17   | Development of Buddhist circuit- Construction of Convention Centre at Bodhgaya |               95.18 |             95.18 |             93.22 |
|        4 | Bihar       | Rural Circuit 2017-18      | Development of Bhitiharwa- Chandrahia- Turkaulia                               |               44.27 |             40.31 |             39.96 |
|        5 | Bihar       | Spiritual Circuit 2017-18  | Development of Mandar Hill & Ang Pradesh                                       |               44.55 |             42.32 |             42.32 |

## (II) LIST OF PROJECTS SANCTIONED UNDER PRASHAD SCHEME IN THE STATE OF BIHAR

(Amount in ₹ crore)

| State   |   Sl. No. | Project Name                                        | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost |   Amount Released |
|---------|-----------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| Bihar   |         1 | Development at Patna Sahib                          | 2015-16         |           41.54 |             33.23 |
| Bihar   |         2 | Development of basic facilities at Vishnupad temple | 2014-15         |            3.63 |              3.63 |

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