Lok Sabha Question No. 96 (STARRED), answered on 2024-07-29
Subject: Development of Tourism at Pachamalai in Trichy District
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Thiru Arun Nehru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*96 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024

## DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM AT PACHAMALAI IN TRICHY DISTRICT

*96 THIRU ARUN NEHRU:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) population;
- (b) details thereof; and
- (c) this regard?

whether the Government is aware  that  Pachamalai in  Trichy district is a hilly  area comprising mostly of Scheduled Tribes if  so,  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  set  up  a  small resort to kickstart tourism at Pachamalai in Trichy district to enable  additional  income  for  the  local  population,  if  so,  the the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government in

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

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

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STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*96 ANSWERED ON 29.07.2024 REGARDING  DEVELOPMENT  OF  TOURISM  AT  PACHAMALAI  IN TRICHY DISTRICT RAISED BY THIRU ARUN NEHRU.

(a) to (c): The  Ministry of  Tourism  recognizes  the  importance of all  tourism places in the  country including  Trichy  in the  State  of Tamil Nadu. The Ministry under its 'Swadesh Darshan' and 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)'  complements  the  efforts of tourism infrastructure development by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations  in  consultation  with  them.  Under the  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme,  the  Ministry  sanctioned  a  project 'Development  of  Chennai-  Mamamallapuram  -  Rameshwaram  Manpadu  -  Kanyakumari'  for  Rs.73.13  Crore  in  2016-17  under Coastal  Circuit  theme  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu.  The  project  is physically complete.

The  Ministry  has  recently  revamped  the  scheme  as  Swadesh Darshan  2.0  (SD  2.0)  with  the  vision  to  develop  sustainable  and responsible  tourism  destinations  in  the  country.  As  per  the  SD2.0 guidelines, the State Governments/UT Administrations prepare State Perspective Plans (SPP) analysing tourism potential of various  destinations, based on the  specified  parameters and  such destinations are shortlisted by the Ministry of Tourism for development  under the scheme. The SPP submitted by the State Government of Tamil Nadu does not include Pachamalai in Trichy District.  The Ministry has  identified  57 destinations under  SD2.0

for    development    in  the  country  including  'Mamallapuram'  &  'The Nilgiris'  in  Tamil  Nadu  and  has  sanctioned  a  project  'Immersive experience  at  Shore  Temple'  at  Mamallapuram  in  Tamil  Nadu  for Rs.30.02 Crore.

In addition, the Ministry under its PRASHAD scheme has sanctioned the following projects in Tamil Nadu, which are physically complete:-

| Project Name               | Year of Sanction   |   Sanctioned Cost |
|----------------------------|--------------------|-------------------|
| Development of Kanchipuram | 2016-17            |             13.99 |
| Development of Velankanni  | 2016-17            |              4.86 |

There  is  no  proposal  before  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  to  set  up  a resort at Pachamalai in Trichy, Tamil Nadu. ***********