Lok Sabha Question No. 51 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Cleaning of Ponds to Beautify Tourist Spots
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: SADHVI SAVITRI BAI PHOOLE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†51 ANSWERED ON 18.07.2016

## CLEANING OF PONDS TO BEAUTIFY TOURIST SPOTS

## †51.  SADHVI SAVITRI BAI PHULE:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government has formulated any project for cleaning and desilting of ponds and drains for the beautification of tourist spots;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c)   the time by which the said work is likely to be completed; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  facilities  and security to the domestic and foreign tourists?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) to (c): Formulation  of  project  under  tourism  sector  including that for cleaning and desilting of ponds  and drains for the beautification of tourist spots is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to them for such tourism projects subject to receipt of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), adherence of existing scheme guidelines, availability  of  funds  and  liquidation  of  utilisation  certificates  for funds released earlier.
- (d): The  following  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to provide facilities and security to the domestic and foreign tourists:-
- (i) The Ministry of Tourism has launched the 24x7 Toll Free Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline in 12 Languages including
- 10  international  languages  and  in  Hindi  &  English  on 8.2.2016.  This  service  is  available  on  the      toll  free number  1800111363  or  on  a short code 1363 and operational 24X7  in a year offering a 'multi-lingual helpdesk' in the designated languages to provide support service  in  terms  of  providing  information  relating  to Travel & Tourism in India to the domestic and International tourists and  to assist the  callers with advice  on  action  to  be  taken  during  times  of  distress while travelling in India and if need be alert the concerned  authorities.  The  languages  handled  by  the Tourist Helpline include ten International languages besides English and Hindi, namely, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian  and Spanish.  The  calls  made  by  tourists  (both international and domestic) while in India will be free of charge.
- ii)      Adoption  of  code  of  conduct  by  the  Indian  travel  and tourism industry for safe and honourable tourism, which contains a set of guidelines to encourage tourism activities  to  be  undertaken with respect to basic rights like dignity, safety and freedom from exploitation of both tourists  and  local  residents,  in  particular  women  and children.
- iii) All  the  Chief  Ministers  of  the  State  Governments  and Administrators  of  Union  Territory  Administrations  have been  asked to take immediate  effective steps for ensuring  a  conducive  and  friendly  environment  for  all tourists  and  also  request  them  to  publicize  the  steps being taken/proposed to be taken to increase the sense of security amongst the present/prospective visitors and also to counter the negative publicity, if any.
- iv) The National Tourism Ministers' Conference was convened on 18 th  July, 2013 and 21 st  August, 2014 in New Delhi which resolved that the Departments of Tourism of all States and UTs will work for ensuring the safety and security of tourists, especially women. The State Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations  of  Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh,  Rajasthan,  Jammu  &  Kashmir,  Uttar  Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha have deployed Tourist Police, in one form or the other.
- v) Grant of Central Financial Assistance to the State Governments  of  Rajasthan,  Uttar  Pradesh  and  Andhra Pradesh for setting up of Tourist Facilitation and Security Organization (TFSO) on a pilot basis.
- vi) In  the  wake of some unfortunate incidents happened in the  past  involving  foreign  tourists,  Ministry  of  Tourism posted an advisory on its website www.incredibleindia.org. vii) The  Ministry  of  Tourism  has  launched  the  'Swachh Paryatan  Mobile  App'  at  25  selected  Archaeological Survey  of  India  (ASI)  monuments across  the country  in the first  phase.  Through this App., the visitors can take photographs  of  unclean  areas  and  garbage  and  upload the same for removal by the concerned authorities, i.e. the Nodal Officers for the monuments appointed by ASI.

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