Lok Sabha Question No. 939 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Development of Tourist Destination in Forest Zone
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Rudra Narayan Pany

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.+939 ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025

## DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST DESTINATION IN FOREST ZONE

## +939.  SHRI RUDRA NARAYAN PANY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of two tourist spots, namely Ganesh  Khol  and  Nandinia in the forest zone circle of Dhenkanal district in Odisha;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Union Government proposes to undertake proper development of both of the said tourist destinations in tandem with the State Government; and
- (d) whether the Government is likely to simplify and relax certain norms in the forest laws in case circumstances warrant so?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): Promotion  and  development  of  tourism  is  primarily  the responsibility of the concerned State Government/UT Administration. As informed by Government of Odisha, Ganesh Khol and Nandinia are not identified tourism spots.

The Ministry  of  Tourism  under  the  schemes  of  'Swadesh  Darshan' and  National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' provides financial assistance  to  State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations for the development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities at various tourism destinations in the country including Odisha.

Under 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States/Union Territories  for  Capital  Investment  (SASCI)  -  Development  of  Iconic

Tourist Centers to Global Scale', Government of India has recently sanctioned 40 Projects in the country for Rs.3295.76 Crore. The  details  of  projects  sanctioned  under  the  above  mentioned schemes in the State of Odisha are given at Annexure. Proposals  are  received  from  States/UTs  from  time  to  time  for seeking  financial  assistance  under  the  various  schemes  of  the Ministry  of  Tourism.  These  proposals  are  extended  for  projects subject to fulfilment of the stipulated provisions and availability of funds. (d): As  conveyed  by  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate Change,  it  has  issued  guidelines  for  sustainable  eco  tourism  in forest and wildlife areas in the year 2021.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.+939 ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST DESTINATION IN FOREST ZONE RAISED BY SHRI RUDRA NARAYAN PANY

## Projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme for the State of Odisha

|   S. No. | Circuit         | Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                   |   Amount Sanctioned (Rs. Crore) |
|----------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|        1 | Coastal Circuit | 2016-17         | Development of Gopalpur, Barkul, Satapada and Tampara |                           70.82 |

## Projects sanctioned under PRASHAD for the State of Odisha

|   S. No. | Project Name                       | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost (Rs. Crore) |
|----------|------------------------------------|-----------------|-----------------------------|
|        1 | Infrastructure Development at Puri | 2014-15         |                          50 |

Projects sanctioned under Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI Scheme) - Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale for the State of Odisha

|   S. No. | Name of the Project     |   Sanctioned Cost (Rs. Crore) | Date of Sanction   |
|----------|-------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------|
|        1 | Development of Hirakund |                         99.9  | 26-11-2024         |
|        2 | Development of Satkosia |                         99.99 | 26-11-2024         |

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