Lok Sabha Question No. 2662 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Integrated Development of Amritsar
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Shri Gurjeet Singh Aujla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRRED QUESTION NO. 2662

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2024

## INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF AMRITSAR

## 2662.   SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) the specific plans formulated by the Government for integrated development of Amritsar and its border areas to ensure economic growth, social progress and national security;
- (b) whether the Government has allocated or proposed to allocate the special grants or packages to boost economic opportunities including investment in industries, agriculture, food processing and tourism, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has a roadmap to improve border-area infrastructure, including roads, railways, air connectivity, to enhance trade and tourism potential, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps being taken by the Government to address challenges particularly to the border region such as unemployment, lack of healthcare facilities and limited access to modern education?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) & (b) No Sir. There is no specific proposal for the Integrated Development of Amritsar. However, all the development schemes of the Union Government are to be used by States and UTs for development of all regions  in  an  integrated  manner,  improving  the  quality  of  life their residents. As for border protection, the Union Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to strengthen it including through, inter-alia,  creation of border infrastructure (i.e. fence, road, floodlights and Border Out Posts etc.), multi-tiered and multi-modal deployment of border guarding forces along the border, deployment of technological solutions, round the clock  surveillance  &  patrolling,  advanced  weapons  and  equipment  for  security  forces, improved intelligence and operational coordination, conducting special operations based on vulnerability  mapping,  anti-tunnelling  exercise  and  pro-active  action  against  intruders.  In Tourism,  the Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of 'Swadesh Darshan

(SD)' and 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' complements the efforts of States and UTs by extending financial assistance in synergy with the scheme guidelines, availability of funds etc. The Ministry has sanctioned one  Project  under  PRASHAD  at  Amritsar,  Punjab  i.e.  "Border  experience  at  Attari  in Amritsar" for development.

(c) Recently, the Government has sanctioned a proposal for construction of border roads in the States of Punjab and Rajasthan along Indo-Pakistan border which includes 173.28 Km of roads for Amritsar sector of Border Security Force.

(d) Amritsar District have two Aspirational Blocks: Ajnala and Harshe Chinna. Both are in the border area. The Aspirational Blocks Programme focuses on improving 40 Key Indicators in  Health,  Education,  Nutrition,  Agriculture,  etc.  through  better  governance  in  order  to enhance  the  quality  of  life  of  citizens  in  underdeveloped  blocks  of  India  by  converging existing schemes, defining outcomes, and monitoring them on a constant basis."

*****