Lok Sabha Question No. 16 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Special Programmes for the Conservation and Promotion of Cultural and Historical Sites in Punjab
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO. 16 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

## SPECIAL PROGRAMMES FOR THE CONSERVATION AND PROMOTION OF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL SITES IN PUNJAB

## 16. SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  launched  special  programmes  for  the conservation and promotion of cultural and historical sites in Punjab, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any specific sites have been selected under these programmes  and  if  so,  the  budget  allocated  for  their  development; and
- (c) whether  the  development  of  these  sites  has  benefited  the  local communities and if so, the details of these benefits?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  takes  up  conservation  and maintenance work of 33 protected monuments/sites including providing  amenities in the state of Punjab as per the requirement and availability  of  resources.  ASI  conducts  various  cultural  events  from time to time specially during the World Heritage Day, World Heritage Week and various other important occasions to promote the cultural and Historical sites.

Development and promotion of tourism destinations and products is primarily  undertaken  by  the  concerned  State  Government  /Union Territory  Administration.  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  provides  financial assistance to States/ UT Administration under its scheme 'Swadesh Darshan' and 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' for tourism infrastructure development and recently sanctioned Scheme for 'Special Assistance to States/Union Territories for Capital Investment (SASCI)-Development of Iconic Tourist Centers to Global Scale'  for development  of  cultural  and  historical  sites.  The  projects  under  the schemes are sanctioned on receipt of appropriate project proposals, its adherence to the Scheme Guidelines, availability of budget etc.

- (b) The details of funds allocated by ASI for conservation and maintenance  works  for  the  protected  monuments/sites  of  Punjab State during the last four years are as under:

(Amount in Rs.)

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   | Amount Allocated   |
|-----------|------------------|--------------------|
|         1 | 2020-21          | 80,00,000          |
|         2 | 2021-22          | 1,50,00,000        |
|         3 | 2022-23          | 6,53,00,000        |
|         4 | 2023-24          | 11,00,00,000       |

Apart from the above mentioned allocation, the details of the projects sanctioned in the State of Punjab under Ministry of Tourism  through  Swadesh  Darshan,    PRASHAD  Scheme  and recently sanctioned Scheme for 'Special Assistance to States/Union Territories  for  Capital  Investment  (SASCI)  -  Development  of  Iconic Tourist Centers to Global Scale'  are attached at Annexure I.

- (c) Undertaking conservation and development works at ASI monuments help  to  enhance  tourists/visitors  experience  and  also  create  and increase employment opportunities and also strengthen local economy.

## Swadesh Darshan Scheme

|   Sl. No. | Circuit          | Sanction Year   | Name of the Project                                                                                              |   Amount Sanctioned (₹ Cr.) |
|-----------|------------------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
|         1 | Heritage Circuit | 2018-19         | Development of Anandpur Sahib - Fatehgarh Sahib - Chamkaur Sahib - Ferozpur - Khatkar Kalan - Kalanour - Patiala |                       85.32 |

## PRASHAD Scheme

|   Sl. No. | Project Name                                          | Sanction Year   |   Approved Cost (₹ Cr.) |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------------|
|         1 | Development of Karuna Sagar Valmiki Sthal at Amritsar | 2015-16         |                    6.4  |
|         2 | Development of Chamkaur Sahib                         | 2021-22         |                   31.57 |

## Scheme for Special Assistance to States/Union Territories for Capital Investment (SASCI) - Development of Iconic Tourist Centers to Global Scale

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Project                                                                                              | Date of Sanction   |   Sanctioned Cost (₹ Cr.) |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|---------------------------|
|         1 | Development of Heritage Street as a tribute to Shaheed-e-Azam, Sardar Bhagat Singh at Khatkar Kalan in SBS Nagar | 26-11-2024         |                     53.45 |

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## ANNEXURE - I