Lok Sabha Question No. 2604 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Development of Katarniaghat Wildlife Division as an Eco-Tourism Hotspot
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dr. Anand Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2604

## ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## DEVELOPMENT OF KATARNIAGHAT WILDLIFE DIVISION

## AS AN ECO-TOURISM HOTSPOT

†2604. DR. ANAND KUMAR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  Katarniaghat  Wildlife Division, spread over an area of 551 square kilometres in Bahraich district,  is  very  important  for  rare  wildlife  like  tigers,  elephants, leopards,  chital,  rhinoceros,  deer  etc.,  and  for  the  presence  of
- (a) dolphins in the Gerua River;
- (b) whether the Government plans to develop the said area from the point of view of tourism facilities;
- (c) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  so  far  in  this  area  to  develop infrastructure  such  as  road  connectivity,  accommodation,  guide facilities,  boating,  security  and  publicity  to  make  tourism  more attractive and accessible; and
- (d) whether the Government is implementing after making any comprehensive  action  plan/policy  or  considering  any  such  action plan to develop this area as a major eco-tourism hotspot at national and international level and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) to (d): The Ministry of Tourism recognizes importance of all the tourist destinations  including  Katarniaghat  wildlife  division  and  various  tourism products of the country. Development and promotion of tourism destinations in the country including formulation of specific development action plans is primarily done by the concerned State Government (SG)/UT Administration (UTA).  However,  Ministry  of  Tourism  under  its  various  schemes  such  as Swadesh  Darshan  (SD);  Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  (SD2.0);  Challenge  Based Destination  Development  (CBDD),  an  initiative  under  Swadesh  Darshan;

Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) etc. provides financial assistance for development of tourism infrastructure  and  experiences  in  the  country  including  those  related wildlife tourism to the SGs/UTAs on receipt of the project proposals from them,  in  synergy  with  the  scheme  guidelines,  Government  directions, availability of funds, inter-se priority etc. A range of components which may enhance  tourism facilitation at the destinations are considered for sanctioning, as per project requirement including those related to tourism core products, tourism activities, safety, sanitation, connectivity, parking, general site development, soft interventions etc. The  details  of  the  projects  sanctioned  under  SD,  SD2.0,  CBDD  and PRASHAD schemes in the state of Uttar Pradesh is annexed. Government of India in 2024-25 sanctioned the projects ' Development of Bateshwar in District-Agra '  for Rs.74.05 Crore and ' Integrated Buddhist Tourism Development in Shrawasti ' for Rs. 80.24 Crore in the State of Uttar Pradesh  under its  initiative  for  'Special  Assistance  to  States  for  Capital Investment (SASCI)Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale'. Further,  Ministry  has  released  'National  Strategy  for  sustainable tourism'  which  aims  to  mainstream  sustainability  in  the  Indian  tourism sector and 'National Strategy for Eco -Tourism' with the vision to position India as a preferred destination for ecotourism.

The Ministry also envisaged 'Travel for LiFE (TFL)', a programme for tourism sector under Mission LiFE, to create awareness about sustainable tourism  and  to  nudge  the  tourists  and  tourism  businesses  to  adopt sustainable  practices  synchronous  with  nature.  The  programme  aims  to mainstream  sustainability into tourism sector towards  developing a sustainable, responsible and resilient tourism sector.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2604 ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026 REGARDING DEVELOPMENT  OF  KATARNIAGHAT  WILDLIFE  DIVISION  AS  AN  ECOTOURISM HOTSPOT RAISED BY DR. ANAND KUMAR

Details of the projects sanctioned under  SD, SD2.0, CBDD and PRASHAD schemes in the state of Uttar Pradesh

| Scheme          | Name of the project                                                                                                                                                                      | Year of Sanction   |   Sanction Amount (Rs. In Crore) |
|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|----------------------------------|
| Swadesh Darshan | Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar, & Kapilwastu                                                                                                                                        | 2016-17            |                            87.89 |
|                 | Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur                                                                                                                                               | 2016-17            |                            69.45 |
|                 | Development of Ahar-Aligarh- Kasganj-Sarosi (Unnao)-Pratapgarh- Kausambi-Mirzapur-Gorakhpur- Domariyaganj-Basti-Barabanki- Azamgarh-Kairana- Baghpat- Shahjahanpur                       | 2016-17            |                            71.91 |
|                 | Development of Bijnor- Meerut- Kanpur- Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra- Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi | 2016-17            |                            67.51 |
|                 | Development of Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- Maghar Dham (Sant Kabir Nagar)- Chauri Chaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur)- Mahuar shaheed Sthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed Smarak (Meerut)                     | 2016-17            |                            36.65 |
|                 | Development of Ayodhya                                                                                                                                                                   | 2017-18            |                           127.21 |
|                 | Development of Jewar-Dadri- Sikandrabad-Noida-Khurja-Banda                                                                                                                               | 2018-19            |                            12.03 |
|                 | Development of Gorakhnath Temple (Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple (Balrampur) and Vatvashni Temple (Domariyagunj)                                                                          | 2018-19            |                            18.3  |

| Swadesh Darshan   | Vedic- wellness Experience, Naimisharanya                        | 2023-24   |   17.80 |
|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|---------|
| 2.0               | Azad Park and Dekho Prayagraj Trail Experince, Prayagraj         | 2023-24   |   14.52 |
| CBDD              | Development of Cultural Landscape at Mahoba                      | 2024-25   |   24.98 |
| PRASHAD           | Development of Varanasi - Phase - I                              | 2015-16   |   18.73 |
| PRASHAD           | Development of Mathura-Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit (Ph-II) | 2014-15   |   10.98 |
| PRASHAD           | River Cruise Tourism in Ganga, Varanasi                          | 2017-18   |    9.02 |
| PRASHAD           | Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan         | 2014-15   |    9.36 |
| PRASHAD           | Development of Varanasi - Phase - II                             | 2017-18   |   44.6  |
| PRASHAD           | Development of Infrastructure facilities at Govardhan            | 2018-19   |   37.59 |

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