Lok Sabha Question No. 5886 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Inclusion of Salasar Balaji Temple, Churu under PRASHAD Scheme
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Rahul Kaswan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5886 ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## INCLUSION OF SALASAR BALAJI TEMPLE, CHURU

## UNDER PRASHAD SCHEME

## 5886. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is aware that Salasar Balaji Temple in Churu attracts six to seven lakh pilgrims during Chaitra and Ashwin Purnima fairs  annually  and  forms  part  of  the  Salasar  Khatu  Shyamji-Rani  Sati Dadi pilgrimage circuit;
- (b) whether  the  said  temple  has  been  included  under  the  Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme and whether the Government proposes to include it and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  Churu's  Shekhawati  fresco  havelis  including  Surana  Haveli with 1,111 doors and Sethani Ka Johara stepwell are listed under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping;
- (d)  whether Tal Chappar Blackbuck Sanctuary spread over 719 hectares in Churu has been developed under Swadesh Darshan 2.0; and
- (e) the details of total funds allocated under PRASHAD, Swadesh Darshan and Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) for Churu district during the last three years and the current year, yearwise?

## ANSWER

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM

(a) and (b): Development  and  promotion  of  tourist  destinations  is primarily undertaken by the respective State Government/ Union Territory (UT)  Administration. Ministry  of  Tourism  under  its  Scheme  'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual,  Heritage  Augmentation  Drive'  (PRASHAD) provides financial assistance to the State Governments (SGs) and Union Territory  Administrations  (UTAs)  for  development  of  tourism  related infrastructure at identified religious and heritage sites across the country including the State of Rajasthan. This process is undertaken in consultation with State Governments (SGs)/UT Administrations (UTs).

No proposal is under the consideration of the Ministry of Tourism to include  the  development  of  Salasar  Balaji  Temple  under  the  Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive  (PRASHAD) scheme.  However,  receiving  proposals  from  the  State  Governments/UT Administrations for financial assistance for tourism projects is a continuous process.  The  proposals  received  are  examined  with  reference  to  the prescribed guidelines and financial assistance is extended for such projects subject to fulfilment of the stipulated conditions and availability of funds.

(c): As per the information received from Ministry of Culture, Surana Haveli with  1,111  doors  and  Sethani  Ka  Johara  stepwell  of  Churu  have  been documented under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM).

(d) and (e): The Ministry under its various schemes including 'Swadesh Darshan  (SD)',  'Swadesh  Darshan  2.0  (SD2.0)'  and  'Challenge  Based Destination  Development -CBDD'  (an  initiative  under  Swadesh  Darshan scheme) provides financial assistance for development of tourism infrastructure  and  experiences  in  the  country,  on  receipt  of  the  project proposals from State Governments/UT Administrations, in synergy with the scheme guidelines,  Government  directions,  availability  of  funds,  inter-se priority etc. The above-mentioned schemes are approved till March, 2026. Presently,  no  proposal  under  consideration  for  development  of  tourism projects in the Churu District under the above schemes. The details of the projects sanctioned under PRASHAD, SD and SD2.0 schemes in the state of Rajasthan including in Churu is annexed.

In addition, Government of India in 2024-25 under Special assistance to  States  for  capital  investment  scheme  (SASCI)-  Development  of  Iconic Tourist  Centres  to  Global  Scale, sanctioned  the  project  'Development  at AmberNahargarh  and  Surrounding  Area  in  Jaipur'  for  ₹49.31  Crore  and 'Development  at  Jal  Mahal  in  Jaipur'  for  ₹96.61  Crore  in  the  State  of Rajasthan.

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## ANNEXURE

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (d) AND (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5886 ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026 REGARDING INCLUSION OF SALASAR BALAJI TEMPLE, CHURU UNDER PRASHAD SCHEME RAISED BY SHRI RAHUL KASWAN

Details of the projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme in the State of Rajasthan

|   Sr. No. | Name of the Project                     |   Amount Sanctioned (Rs. In Crore) |
|-----------|-----------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|         1 | Integrated Development of Pushkar/Ajmer |                              32.64 |

Details of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan and Swadesh Darshan 2.0 schemes in the state of Rajasthan

|   Sr. No. | Scheme   | Name of the Project                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |   Sanction Amount (Rs. In Crore) |
|-----------|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|         1 | SD1.0    | Development of Sambhar Lake Town and Other Destinations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                            50.01 |
|         2 | SD1.0    | Development of Govind Dev ji temple (Jaipur), Khatu Shyam Ji (Sikar) and Nathdwara (Rajsamand)                                                                                                                                                                                                    |                            75.8  |
|         3 | SD1.0    | Development of Spiritual Circuit - 'Development of Churu (Salasar Balaji)- Jaipur (Shri Samodke Balaji, Ghatke Balaji, Bandheke Balaji)- Viratnagar (Bijak, Jainnasiya, Ambika Temple)- Bharatpur (Kaman Region)- Dholpur (Muchkund) - Mehndipur Balaji- Chittorgarh (Sanwaliyaji)                |                            87.05 |
|         4 | SD1.0    | Development of Heritage Circuit Development of Rajsamand (Kumbhalgarh Fort) - Jaipur (Facade Illumination in Jaipur and Nahargarh Fort) -Jhalawar (Gagron Fort) - Chittorgarh (Chittorgarh Fort) - Jaisalmer (Jaisalmer Fort) - Hanumangarh (Gogamedi) - Udaipur (Pratap Gaurav Kendra) - Dholpur |                            70.61 |

|    |       | (Bagh-I-Nilofor and Purani Chawani) - Nagaur (Meera Bai Smarak, Merta) - Tonk (Sunehri Kothi)   |       |
|----|-------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------|
|  5 | SD2.0 | Development works at Shri Khatu Shyam Ji Temple (Sikar)                                         | 87.87 |
|  6 | SD2.0 | Spiritual Experience, Keshavraipatan                                                            | 21.65 |
|  7 | SD2.0 | Development Works at Shri Karni mata mandir, Bikaner                                            | 22.58 |
|  8 | SD2.0 | Development of MalaseriDungri, Bhilwara District                                                | 48.73 |

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