Lok Sabha Question No. 2229 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-05
Subject: Development of Tourism Sector in Kargil
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Mohmad Haneefa

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2229

## ANSWERED ON 05.08.2024

## DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM SECTOR IN KARGIL

## 2229 SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that there is huge potential of cultural religious and winter tourism in Kargil District;
- (b) whether the previous Government had multiple times promised to develop Kargil as a tourism destination, which has not happened yet; if so, the details and reasons thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  develop  Kargil  as  a tourist destination in near future; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the timeline for implementation?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM      (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (d):   Yes, the Ministry of Tourism recognizes the huge potential of cultural, religious and winter tourism in Kargil District.

The Ministry of Tourism through its central sector scheme of 'Swadesh Darshan' (SD) complements  the  efforts of tourism infrastructure development by extending financial assistance to the State

Governments/UT Administrations in consultation with them.

The  Ministry sanctioned 3 projects  under  its  Swadesh  Darshan scheme,  which  includes  tourism  related  interventions  at  various destinations in the UT of Ladakh including Kargil, the details of which is annexed.

Now  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  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 &  tourist-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  'Leh'  &  'Kargil'  in  the  UT  of  Ladakh  and  has sanctioned following projects at these destinations: -

| Destination   | Interventions Name                                    |   Cost (In Rs. Crore) |
|---------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Leh           | Julley Leh Biodiversity Park                          |                 24.89 |
| Kargil        | Exploring LOC and Hundarman Village Experience Kargil |                 12.01 |

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 'Mushkoh Village' in Ladakh.

In addition, the Ministry promotes various destinations and products of the  country  including  Kargil  through  different  promotional  mediums such as website, social media promotions, promotional films, creatives etc.

*******

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) TO (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2229 ANSWERED ON 05.08.2024 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM SECTOR IN KARGIL RAISED BY SHRI MOHMAD HANEEFA.

The  list  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme which  includes  tourism  related  interventions  in  UT  of  Ladakh  is  as under:

(In Rs. Crore)

|   Sl. No. | UT             | Circuit/ Sanction Year    | Name of the Project                                                                                                 | Amount Sanctioned                                                |
|-----------|----------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | J&K and Ladakh | Himalayan Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Jammu- Srinagar-Pahalgam- Bhagwati Nagar-Anantnag- Salamabad Uri-Kargil-Leh                          | 77.33 (Includes intervention for Rs.13.43 Crore in UT of Ladakh) |
|         2 | J&K and Ladakh | Himalayan Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Tourist facilities at Anantnag- Pulwama-Kishtwar- Pahalgam-Zanskar Padum - Daksum - Ranjit Sagar Dam | 86.39 (Includes intervention for Rs.9.44 Crore in UT of Ladakh)  |
|         3 | J&K and Ladakh | Himalayan Circuit 2016-17 | Development of Tourist Facilities at Gulmarg- Baramulla-Kupwara- Kargil - Leh                                       | 91.84 (Includes intervention for Rs.37.67 Crore in UT of Ladakh) |

*******