Lok Sabha Question No. 92 (STARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Eco and Heritage Tourism in Assam
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Smt. Bijuli Kalita Medhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*92 ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025

## ECO AND HERITAGE TOURISM IN ASSAM

*92.  SMT. BIJULI KALITA MEDHI:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

(a) the manner in which the Government is planning to promote Eco tourism and Heritage tourism in Assam; and (b) the details of the specific steps being taken to enhance facilities at major tourist destinations like Kaziranga and Kamakhya

- Temple?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM         (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.*92  ANSWERED  ON  10.02.2025  REGARDING  ECO  AND HERITAGE TOURISM IN ASSAM RAISED BY SMT. BIJULI KALITA MEDHI.

(a)  &  (b):  Development  and  promotion  of  tourist  destinations  and products,  including  Eco  and  Heritage  Tourism,  is  undertaken  by  the respective  State  Government/Union  Territory  (UT)  Administration.  The Ministry  complements  the  efforts  of  States/UTs  by  developing  and promoting  various  tourism  products  of  the  country,  including  Eco  and Heritage Tourism in Assam through various schemes and initiatives.

Ministry of Tourism annually organizes International Tourism Mart (ITM) in  the  North  Eastern  region.  This  event  serves  as  a  vital  platform, bringing together tourism businesses and entrepreneurs from the North Eastern  States  to  foster  collaboration  and  interactions  among  buyers, sellers, media, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Ministry of Tourism  organized  the  12 th   edition  of  the  International  Tourism  Mart (ITM), in Kaziranga from November 26 th  to 29 th , 2024.

In  order  to  position  India  as  a  preferred  global  destination  for  Eco Tourism, Ministry of Tourism has formulated National Strategy for Eco -Tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan (SD)', 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development' complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations including the State of Assam.

Under the  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  two  projects  were  sanctioned  in Assam one under  Wildlife  Circuit  which  also  includes  interventions  at Kaziranga and another under Heritage Circuit. Details of these projects are Annexed.

Ministry  of  Tourism  has  revamped  the  Swadesh  Darshan  Scheme  as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a destination & touristcentric approach. Kokrajhar and Jorhat have been identified for development under it.

The Ministry of Tourism has also issued guidelines for 'Challenge Based Destination  Development',  a  sub -scheme  under  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0 with the aim for holistic development of destination to enhance tourist experience. Details of destination identified for development in the State of Assam is Annexed.

Under the PRASHAD Scheme, the Ministry has sanctioned a project for 'Development of Pilgrimage amenities at Kamakhya Temple'

With a view to providing enhanced amenities and facilities for tourists, a project 'Joint Development of Kamakhya Railway Station' was sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Tourism on 50:50 cost sharing basis.

The Government of India under the guidelines for Special Assistance to States/Union Territories for Capital Investment (SASCI) for Development of Iconic Tourist Centres has approved two projects in Assam.

Details  of  projects  sanctioned  for  the  State  of  Assam  under  the aforesaid schemes of Ministry of Tourism is Annexed.

As informed by the Government of Assam, to enhance the facilities at Kaziranga,  the  project  'Upgradation  of  Tourist  facilities  at  Kaziranga' sanctioned  by  North  Eastern  Council  in  the  year  2021-22  has  been executed by the Government of Assam and the project is completed in Nov,  2024.  Moreover,  under  the  Amar  Alohi  Scheme  of  Government  of Assam, in the FY 2017-18 and 2018-19, sixteen beneficiaries had been selected at Kaziranga for development and promotion of homestays and the works had been completed accordingly.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (b) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.*92  ANSWERED  ON  10.02.2025  REGARDING  ECO  AND HERITAGE TOURISM IN ASSAM RAISED BY SMT. BIJULI KALITA MEDHI.

List of sanctioned projects under Swadesh Darshan Scheme for the state of Assam

|   S. No. | Circuit          | Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                      |   Amount Sanctioned (₹ Cr ore) |
|----------|------------------|-----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|        1 | Wildlife Circuit | 2015-16         | Development of Manas - Probitora - Nameri - Kaziranga - Dibru - Saikhowa |                          94.68 |
|        2 | Heritage Circuit | 2016-17         | Development of Tezpur - Majuli - Sibsagar                                |                          90.98 |

List of sanctioned projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 for the state of Assam

|   S. No. | Destination   | Name of the Experience           |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ Cr ore) | Date of Sanction   |
|----------|---------------|----------------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------|
|        1 | Kokrajhar     | Kokrajhar Wetland Experience     |                        26.67 | 05-03-2024         |
|        2 | Jorhat        | Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate |                        23.91 | 05-03-2024         |

Destination identified for development under Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) Scheme

|   S. No. | Destination   | Category                            |   Funding Amount (₹ Cr ore) |
|----------|---------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|        1 | Sivasagar     | Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites |                          10 |

List  of  sanctioned  projects  under  special  Assistance  to  States  for Capital  Investment  (SASCI  Scheme)  -  Development  of  Iconic  Tourist Centres to Global Scale for the state of Assam

|   S. No. | Name of the Project                              |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ Cr ore) | Date of Sanction   |
|----------|--------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------|
|        1 | Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Garden in Guwahati |                        97.12 | 26-11-2024         |

| 2   | Beautification of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar   | 94.76   | 26-11-2024   |
|-----|--------------------------------------------|---------|--------------|

## List of sanctioned projects under PRASHAD for the state of Assam

|   S. No. | Project Name                                           | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost (₹ Cr ore) |
|----------|--------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|----------------------------|
|        1 | Development of Pilgrimage amenities at Kamakhya Temple | 2015-16         |                       29.8 |

## List of sanctioned projects under Assistance to Central Agencies for the state of Assam

|   S. No. | Name of Project                                                                                                       | Agency       | Sanction Year   |   Amount Sanctioned (₹ Lakhs) |
|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|-----------------|-------------------------------|
|        1 | Development of Jetties at 9 main points of embarkation/disembarkation of River Cruise on National Waterways No. 1 & 2 | IWAI         | 2020-21         |                         28.03 |
|        2 | Joint Development of Kamakhya Railway Station                                                                         | M/o Railways | 2018-19         |                          4.96 |
|        3 | Joint Development of Guwahati Railway Station                                                                         | M/o Railways | 2018-19         |                          4.99 |

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