Lok Sabha Question No. 851 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Setting up of Eco-Parks
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Khan Saumitra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 851

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## SETTING UP OF ECO-PARKS

## 851.     SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state: (a) the total number of eco-parks set up in the country including West Bengal during the last five years, year-wise; (b) the details of the initial amount of funds allocated and the extra funds needed to complete each eco-park project; (c) whether the Government plans to set up new eco parks to promote eco-tourism in mining areas; (d) if so, the details thereof along with the estimated funds required for the same; and (e) whether the revenues earned from eco parks and mining tourism is used to develop the mining areas for the living conditions of the locals and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COAL, MINES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) & (b): Coal/Lignite Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have established 16 Eco-Parks/Mine Tourism Sites during the last 5 years. No fund has been allocated by the Government for EcoParks/Mine  Tourism  Sites.  Expenditure  on  establishment,  maintenance  and  upkeep  of  EcoParks/Mine Tourism Sites are done by the respective Coal/Lignite PSUs. The State-wise and yearwise details of project cost of these Eco-Parks/Mine Tourism Sites of Coal/Lignite PSUs are given at Annexure - I.

(c) & (d): The details of new Eco-parks of Coal/Lignite PSUs, along with estimated project cost, are given at Annexure - II.

(e): Eco-parks/Mine Tourism Sites are developed by Coal/Lignite PSUs to boost local tourism and promote  conservation  in  mining  areas.  These  are  meant   for  recreational  purpose  of  nearby localities and no revenue is earned from the Eco-parks/Mine Tourism Sites. However, Kenapara Eco-park of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), Chhattisgarh is run and maintained by local Self-Help Groups to promote mine-tourism. The Self-Help Groups are also earning revenues from floating restaurant, pisciculture and boating facilities of the eco-park for their livelihood.

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## Annexure - I

State-wise and year-wise details including amount of project cost of Eco-Parks/Mine Tourism Sites of Coal/Lignite PSUs set up during the last 5 years

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   | State          | Name of the Eco-Park                                      |   Project Cost (₹ in Lakh) | Extra Project Cost (₹ in Lakh)   |
|-----------|------------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------------|
|         1 | 2019-20          | Chhattisgarh   | Kenapara Eco Park, SECL                                   |                     420    | 79.00                            |
|         2 | 2020-21          | Jharkhand      | Parasnath Udyaan, BCCL                                    |                      57.2  | -                                |
|         3 | 2020-21          | Tamil Nadu     | Mine-I Eco- Park, NLCIL                                   |                     328    | -                                |
|         4 | 2021-22          | Madhya Pradesh | Modwani Dam Eco Park, NCL                                 |                     400    | -                                |
|         5 | 2021-22          | Madhya Pradesh | Nigahi Eco Park, NCL                                      |                     270    | -                                |
|         6 | 2021-22          | Madhya Pradesh | Rose Garden Eco-Park, Jayant, NCL                         |                     621    | 62.00                            |
|         7 | 2021-22          | Odisha         | Chandrashekhar Azad Eco Park, MCL                         |                     278    | -                                |
|         8 | 2021-22          | Madhya Pradesh | Bal Gangadhar Tilak Eco Park, WCL                         |                     255    | -                                |
|         9 | 2021-22          | Tamil Nadu     | Mine-II Eco- Park, NLCIL                                  |                     288    | -                                |
|        10 | 2022-23          | Jharkhand      | Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Eco Park (Ashok Vatika), BCCL |                      20.45 | -                                |
|        11 | 2022-23          | Jharkhand      | Govardhan Eco park, BCCL                                  |                      33.56 | -                                |
|        12 | 2022-23          | Odisha         | Utkal Upavan, MCL                                         |                     168    | -                                |
|        13 | 2022-23          | West Bengal    | Madhuvan Urja Vatika, ECL                                 |                      73.76 | 21.48                            |
|        14 | 2023-24          | Telangana      | GK OC Eco-Park, SCCL                                      |                     476    | -                                |
|        15 | 2023-24          | Maharashtra    | Neem Vatika Eco Park, WCL                                 |                      88    | 8.81                             |
|        16 | 2023-24          | Uttar Pradesh  | CS Azad Eco Park, Bina NCL                                |                    1161    | -                                |

Annexure - II Details of new Eco-parks of Coal/Lignite PSUs along with estimated project cost

|   Sl. No. | State          | Name of New Eco-Park                                                    |   Project Estimate (₹ in Lakh) |
|-----------|----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|         1 | Chhattisgarh   | Manikpur Eco- Park, SECL                                                |                        1111    |
|         2 | Chhattisgarh   | Eco Nature Park, SECL                                                   |                        2589    |
|         3 | Chhattisgarh   | Oxygen Park, SECL                                                       |                         210    |
|         4 | Jharkhand      | B&K Eco-Park, CCL                                                       |                         253    |
|         5 | Jharkhand      | Dhori Eco-Park, CCL                                                     |                        1233    |
|         6 | Jharkhand      | Kathara Eco-Park, CCL                                                   |                         410    |
|         7 | Jharkhand      | Piparwar Eco-Park, CCL                                                  |                         909    |
|         8 | Jharkhand      | CRS Barkakana Eco-Park, CCL                                             |                         143    |
|         9 | Jharkhand      | Barka-Sayal Eco-Park, CCL                                               |                         738    |
|        10 | Jharkhand      | Hazaribagh Eco-Park, CCL                                                |                         931    |
|        11 | Jharkhand      | N K Area Eco-Park, CCL                                                  |                         287    |
|        12 | Jharkhand      | A&C Area Eco- Park, CCL                                                 |                         574    |
|        13 | Jharkhand      | Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Eco-Restoration Park (Govindpur Area), BCCL |                          17.7  |
|        14 | Jharkhand      | Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Eco Park, Moonidih, WJ Area, BCCL           |                         127.03 |
|        15 | Madhya Pradesh | Block-B Eco- Park, NCL                                                  |                        1200    |
|        16 | Madhya Pradesh | Butterfly Park, NCL                                                     |                         400    |
|        17 | Odisha         | Jagannath Vatika in Rani Park, MCL                                      |                         599    |
|        18 | Rajasthan      | Barsingsar Eco- Park, NLCIL                                             |                         147.8  |
|        19 | Telangana      | Srirampur Eco-Park, SCCL                                                |                         200    |
|        20 | Uttar Pradesh  | Khadia Eco-Park, NCL                                                    |                         400    |
|        21 | West Bengal    | Jhanjra Eco-Tourism Park, ECL                                           |                        1091    |
|        22 | West Bengal    | Sonepur Bazari Eco-Park, ECL                                            |                         500    |
|        23 | West Bengal    | Salanpur Eco- Park, ECL                                                 |                         300    |

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