Lok Sabha Question No. 2850 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Development of Pathiramanal Island
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Abdul Majeed Ariff

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2850 ANSWERED ON 07.08.2023

## DEVELOPMENT OF PATHIRAMANAL ISLAND

2850. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps for the development of 50 destinations across the country as a complete package of tourism as announced in the Union Budget for 2023-24 and if so, the details thereof including  the  list  of  these  destinations  and  funds  earmarked  for  their development;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  picturesque  Pathiramanal Island in Alappuzha District has the potential to be developed as one of the  destinations  as  mentioned  above  and  if  so,  the  action  taken thereon; and
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps for developing Arthunkal as  part  of  the  pilgrim  tourism  circuit  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof including funds earmarked and the development activities undertaken so far?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                                     (SHRI G.   KISHAN REDDY)

(a)to (c): The Union Budget for the financial year 2023-24 announced that with an integrated and innovative approach, at least 50 destinations will be selected  through  challenge  mode.  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  organized  Post Budget Webinar in March, 2023 on 'Developi ng Touris m in Mission Mode' with the  objective  to  seek  fruitful  inputs  of  stakeholders  for  implementation  of budget  announcements.  In  addition,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  also undertaken consultations with line Ministries and industry partners in order to  formulate  details  of  the  scheme.  The  destinations  for  development  in challenge mode has not been selected.  However, the Ministry of Tourism has revamped  its  Swadesh  Darshan  scheme  as  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  (SD2.0), with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations  and  has  identified  55  destinations  in  the  country  including 'Kumarakom'  and  'Kozhikode  (Beypore)'  in Kerala  for  development  under SD2.0 scheme.

The  Ministry  of  Tourism  in  the  year  2014-15  la unched  'Swadesh  Darshan' scheme  with the  objective  to  develop  thematic  circuits  and  'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual, Heritage  Augmentation  Drive  (PRASHAD)'  for integrated development of identified pilgrimage destinations in the country. While identification of tourism sites and development of tourism infrastructure  is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  States/UTs,  the  Ministry  of Tourism  provides  financial  assistance  to  the  State  Governments/Union Territory  Administrations  (UTAs)  under  the  above  schemes,  in  consultation with them and in line with scheme guidelines, availability of funds etc. The details of the projects sanctioned under 'Swadesh Darshan' and 'PRASHAD' schemes in the state of Kerala is Annexed.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2850 ANSWERED ON 07.08.2023 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF PATHIRAMANAL ISLAND

LIST  OF  PROJECTS  SANCTIONED  IN  KERALA  UNDER  THE  SCHEMES  OF SWADESH DARSHAN AND PRASHAD.

(Amount in ₹ crore)

| Sr. No.         | Circuit/ Year of Sanction   | Name of the project                                                                                                             | Amount Sanctioned   | Amount Released*   |
|-----------------|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------|--------------------|
| SWADESH DARSHAN | SWADESH DARSHAN             | SWADESH DARSHAN                                                                                                                 | SWADESH DARSHAN     | SWADESH DARSHAN    |
| 1               | Eco Circuit/ 2015-16        | Development of Pathanamthitta- Gavi- Vagamon- Thekkady                                                                          | 64.08               | 64.08              |
| 2.              | Spiritual Circuit/ 2016-17  | Development of Sabarimala - Erumeli-Pampa-Sannidhanam                                                                           | 54.88               | 27.44              |
| 3.              | Spiritual Circuit/ 2016-17  | Development of Sree Padmanabha Arnamula                                                                                         | 78.08               | 73.77              |
| 4.              | Rural Circuit/ 2018-19      | Development of Malanad Malabar Cruise Tourism Project                                                                           | 57.35               | 30.98              |
| 5.              | Spiritual Circuit/ 2018-19  | Development Sivagiri Sree Narayana Guru Ashram- Arruvipuram- Kunnumpara Sree Subrahmania- Chembazhanthi Sree Narayana Gurukulam | 66.42               | 27.77              |
| PRASHAD         | PRASHAD                     | PRASHAD                                                                                                                         | PRASHAD             | PRASHAD            |
| 6               | 2016-17                     | Development at Guruvayur Temple                                                                                                 | 45.19               | 45.19              |

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