Lok Sabha Question No. 109 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Promotion of Wildlife and Forest Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Amol Ramsing Kolhe, C.N. Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.*109 ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## PROMOTION OF WILDLIFE AND FOREST TOURISM

- *109.  DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE: SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any scheme has been formulated for promotion of wildlife and forest tourism in the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  scope  of  the  same  in various States/UTs including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu;
- (c) whether there is a big potential for wildlife and forest tourism in the country;
- (d) if so, the steps taken to tap the potential and for promotion of the wildlife and forest tourism in the notified Tiger Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries within the country including Maharashtra State;
- (e) whether  any  scheme  has  been  put  in  place  to  involve  local communities  as  stakeholders  in  the  development  of  sustainable wildlife and forest tourism; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the funds provided by the Government for promoting sustainable wildlife and forest tourism during  the  last  five  years,  State/UT-wise  including  Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu State?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No.*109 ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023 REGARDING PROMOTION OF  WILDLIFE  AND  FOREST  TOURISM  BY  DR.  AMOL  RAMSING  KOLHE AND SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI.

(a) to (f): The  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  its  scheme  of  Swadesh Darshan identified Wildlife Circuit and Eco Circuit as among 15 thematic circuits  for  development.    The  above  circuits  cover  National  Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserves in the country.  The details of projects sanctioned  under  the  Wildlife  and  Eco  Circuits  of  Swadesh  Darshan scheme  in  various  States/UTs  is  at  Annexure.    No  project  has  been sanctioned  in  the  States  of  Maharashtra  and  Tamil  Nadu  under  the above two circuits of the scheme.

Ministry of Tourism has now revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible destinations following a tourist and destination centric approach.    Sindhudurg  in  Maharashtra  and  Mamallapuram  and  The Nilgirs  in  Tamil  Nadu  have  been  identified  for  development  under  the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme.

Apart from the above, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) has conveyed the following:-

- (i) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, empowers the States/UTs, including  Maharashtra  and  Tamil  Nadu,  for  declaration  of  an area as Sanctuary and National Park, if it considers such area is of adequate ecological, faunal, floral, geo-morphological, natural  or  zoological  significance.  The  management  of  such designated areas (National  Parks,  Sanctuaries,  Tiger  Reserve) is within the ambit of the respective States/UTs. Such
- management interventions may also include Eco-Tourism activities in these areas. The Ministry has issued guidelines for preparation of management plans for these areas in accordance with the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 on 30.11.2023.
- (ii) The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has issued  'Guidelines  for  Sustainable  Ecotourism  in  Forest  and Wildlife Areas-2021' on 29.10.2021. It promotes engagement of local communities in nature tourism in a manner that enriches local  economy  and  encourages  sustainable  use  of  indigenous materials through financially viable values chains thereby helping  such  local  communities  become  'Atma  Nirbhar'.  The Guidelines  also  includes  potential  sites  of  Eco  Tourism  in  the country,  including  Sanjay  Gandhi  (Borivilli),  Lonar  and  Thane Creek  Flamingo  in  Maharashtra  and  Gulf  of  Mannar  Marine, Vedanthangal and Point Calimere in Tamil Nadu.
- (iii)  Further, MoEFCC has also circulated guidelines for preparation of  management plans for protected areas which also includes tourism activities.
- (iv)  The National Tiger Conservation Authority has also notified the 'Normative  Standards  for  tourism  activities  and  Project  Tiger guidelines, 2012'.

In  addition  to  above,  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  formulated  National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism.  Following strategic pillars have been identified for development of sustainable tourism:

- (i) Promoting Environmental Sustainability
- (ii)
- (iii)
- Protecting Biodiversity
- Promoting Economic Sustainability
- (iv) Promoting Socio-Cultural Sustainability
- (v) Scheme for Certification of Sustainable Tourism
- (vi) IEC and Capacity Building
- (vii) Governance

Also, as part of its on-going activities, the Ministry of Tourism regularly promotes India  as  a  holistic  tourism  destination  including  wildlife  and forest  tourism  through  various  mediums  including  social  media  and through its website www.incredibleindia.org.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION No.*109 ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023 REGARDING PROMOTION OF WILDLIFE AND FOREST TOURISM BY DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE AND SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI

Details  of  projects  sanctioned  under  the  Wildlife  and  Eco  Circuits  of Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the country

WILDLIFE CIRCUIT

(Rupees in crore)

| S. No.   | Name of State   | Year of sanction   | Project Name                                                                                |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |
|----------|-----------------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
| 1.       | Madhya Pradesh  | 2015-16            | Development of Circuit at Panna- Mukundpur- Sanjay- Dubri-Bandhavgarh- Kanha- Mukki- Pench. |               92.1  |             86.31 |
| 2.       | Assam           | 2015-16            | Development of Manas- Pobitora- Nameri- Kaziranga- Dibru- Saikhowa.                         |               94.68 |             89.94 |
| Total    | Total           | Total              | Total                                                                                       |              186.78 |            176.25 |

ECO CIRCUIT (Rupees in crore)

|   S. No. | Name of State   | Year of sanction   | Project Name                                                                                                                                |   Amount Sanctioned |   Amount Released |
|----------|-----------------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|-------------------|
|        1 | Uttarakhand     | 2015-16            | Development of Circuit at Tehri- Chamba- Sarain around Tehri Lake.                                                                          |               69.17 |             69.17 |
|        2 | Telangana       | 2015-16            | Development of Circuit in Mahaboobnagar districts (Somasila, Singotam, Kadalaivanam, Akkamahadevi, Egalanpanta, Farahabad, Uma Maheshwaram, |               91.62 |             91.25 |

|       |                |         | Mallelatheertham)                                                                                                                                                                                    |        |        |
|-------|----------------|---------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------|
| 4.    | Mizoram        | 2016-17 | Vagamon- Thekkady. Development of Eco- Adventure Circuit at Aizawl -Rawpuichhip - Khawhphawp - Lengpui - Durtlang - Chatlang- Sakawrhmuituaitlang - Muthee - Beratlawng -Tuirial Airfield - Hmuifang |  66.37 |  53.09 |
| 5.    | Madhya Pradesh | 2017-18 | Development of Gandhisagar Dam- Mandleshwar Dam- Omkareshwar Dam- Indira Sagar Dam- Tawa Dam- Bargi Dam- BhedaGhat- Bansagar Dam- Ken River                                                          |  93.76 |  89.07 |
| 6.    | Jharkhand      | 2018-19 | Development of Dalma- Chandil- Getalsud- BetlaNational park- Mirchaiya- Netarhat                                                                                                                     |  30.44 |  28.83 |
| Total | Total          | Total   | Total                                                                                                                                                                                                | 415.44 | 395.49 |

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