Lok Sabha Question No. 3369 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-09
Subject: Eco Parks and Mine Tourism
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3369 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2023

## ECO PARKS AND MINE TOURISM

3369.   SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

(a) the details including the number of eco parks set up in each State, year-wise during the last five years;

(b) the details of the time taken, 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 needed for the same; and

(e)  whether  the  revenues  earned  from  eco  parks  and  mine  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 PSUs have established 15 Eco-parks during the last 5 years. No fund has  been  allocated  by  the  Government  for  Eco-parks.  Expenditure  on  establishment, maintenance  and  upkeep  of  Eco-parks  are  funded  by  respective  Coal/Lignite  PSUs.  The State-wise and year-wise details of Eco-parks, including the details of completion time, initial amount  of  fund  allocated  by  Coal/Lignite  PSUs  and  the  extra  funds  needed  are  given  at Annexure-I.

(c) & (d) Yes, Sir. The details of estimated funds for new eco-parks by Coal/Lignite PSUs are given at Annexure-II.

(e) No. Eco-parks were developed by Coal/Lignite PSUs for recreational purpose of nearby localities and no revenue earned from these Eco-parks is spent on development of the mining areas. However, Kenapara Eco-Park, SECL, Chhattisgarh is run and maintained by local SelfHelp Groups to promote mine tourism. These Self-Help  Groups are  also  earning  revenues from floating restaurant, pisciculture and boating facilities of the Kenapara Eco-park for their livelihood.

Annexure-I State-wise and year-wise details of eco parks set up by Coal/Lignite PSUs during the last five years:

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   | State          | Name of the Eco- Park                      |   Completion Time (in days) |   Fund Allocated (₹ in lakh) | Extra Fund (₹ in lakh)   |
|-----------|------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------|
|         1 | 2019-20          | Chhattisgarh   | Kenapara Eco Park, SECL                    |                         548 |                       197    | -                        |
|         2 | 2020-21          | Jharkhand      | Parasnath Udyaan, BCCL                     |                         365 |                        57    | -                        |
|         3 | 2020-21          | Tamil Nadu     | Mine-I Eco- Park, NLCIL                    |                         182 |                       328.21 | -                        |
|         4 | 2021-22          | Madhya Pradesh | Modwani Dam Eco Park, NCL                  |                         365 |                       400    | -                        |
|         5 | 2021-22          | Madhya Pradesh | Nigahi Eco Park, NCL                       |                         180 |                        97.86 | -                        |
|         6 | 2021-22          | Madhya Pradesh | Bal Gangadhar Tilak Eco Park, WCL          |                         166 |                       255    | -                        |
|         7 | 2021-22          | Tamil Nadu     | Mine-II Eco- Park, NLCIL                   |                         365 |                       287.82 | -                        |
|         8 | 2022-23          | Jharkhand      | Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Eco Park, BCCL |                         730 |                        20.45 | -                        |
|         9 | 2022-23          | Jharkhand      | Govardhan Eco park, BCCL                   |                         730 |                        22.7  | 4.31                     |
|        10 | 2022-23          | Odisha         | Chandrashekhar Azad Eco Park, MCL          |                         387 |                       278    | -                        |
|        11 | 2022-23          | Odisha         | Utkal Upavan, MCL                          |                         270 |                       168    | -                        |
|        12 | 2022-23          | West Bengal    | Madhuvan Urja Vatika, ECL                  |                         120 |                        73.76 | 21.48                    |
|        13 | 2022-23          | Telangana      | GK OC Eco-Park, SCCL                       |                         730 |                       474    | -                        |
|        14 | 2023-24          | Maharashtra    | Neem Vatika Eco Park, WCL                  |                         227 |                        88    | 8.80                     |
|        15 | 2023-24          | Uttar Pradesh  | CS Azad Eco Park, NCL                      |                         730 |                      1161.14 | -                        |

## Annexure-II Details of new eco parks to be set up by Coal/Lignite PSUs along with estimated funds:

|   Sl. No. | State          | Name of New Eco-Park                                    |   Estimated Fund (₹ in Lakh) |
|-----------|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|
|         1 | Chhattisgarh   | Manikpur Eco- Park, SECL                                |                       1111   |
|         2 | Chhattisgarh   | Eco Nature Park, SECL                                   |                       2464   |
|         3 | Chhattisgarh   | Oxygen Park, SECL                                       |                        210   |
|         4 | Jharkhand      | B&K Eco-Park, CCL                                       |                        252   |
|         5 | Jharkhand      | Dhori Eco-Park, CCL                                     |                       1233   |
|         6 | Jharkhand      | Kathara Eco-Park, CCL                                   |                        409   |
|         7 | Jharkhand      | Piparwar Eco-Park, CCL                                  |                        909   |
|         8 | Jharkhand      | CRS Barkakana Eco-Park, CCL                             |                        143   |
|         9 | Jharkhand      | Barka-Sayal Eco-Park, CCL                               |                        737   |
|        10 | Jharkhand      | Hazaribagh Eco-Park, CCL                                |                       1196   |
|        11 | Jharkhand      | N K Eco-Park, CCL                                       |                        287   |
|        12 | Jharkhand      | Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Eco- Restoration Park, BCCL |                         14.4 |
|        13 | Madhya Pradesh | Block-B Eco- Park, NCL                                  |                       1200   |
|        14 | Madhya Pradesh | Butterfly Park, NCL                                     |                        400   |
|        15 | Odisha         | Jagannath Vatika, MCL                                   |                        600   |
|        16 | Rajasthan      | Barsingsar Project Eco- Tourism Park, NLCIL             |                        147.8 |
|        17 | Telangana      | Srirampur Open Cast-II Eco-Park, SCCL                   |                         50   |
|        18 | Uttar Pradesh  | Khadia Eco-Park, NCL                                    |                        400   |
|        19 | West Bengal    | Jhanjra Eco-Tourism Park, ECL                           |                       1051   |

*****

4