SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has received six tourism infrastructure projects worth Rs 524.49 crore under the Centre’s Swadesh Darshan Scheme, with Rs 457.10 crore released or authorised and Rs 425.89 crore utilised, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The projects, all sanctioned during 2016-17 under the Himalayan Circuit, cover major tourist destinations and routes across Jammu and Kashmir, including Gulmarg, Baramulla, Kupwara, Pahalgam, Uri, Rajouri, Shopian, Pulwama, Kishtwar and Sudhmahadev.
The figures were provided by Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in response to a question on the progress achieved under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme during the last five years.
Of the six JK projects, Rs 59.30 crore has been utilised against the Rs 77.33-crore project for development of the Jammu-Srinagar-Pahalgam-Bhagwati Nagar-Anantnag-Salamabad-Uri-Kargil-Leh circuit. The Jammu-Rajouri-Shopian-Pulwama tourism facilities project, sanctioned at Rs 81.60 crore, has utilised Rs 59.41 crore.
The project for construction of tourism assets in lieu of those destroyed in the 2014 floods under the Prime Minister’s Development Package was sanctioned at Rs 90.43 crore, of which Rs 67.07 crore has been utilised.
The development of tourist facilities at Mantalai and Sudhmahadev, sanctioned at Rs 91.99 crore, has utilised Rs 91.93 crore. Another project covering Anantnag-Pulwama-Kishtwar-Pahalgam-Zanskar Padum-Daksum-Ranjit Sagar Dam was sanctioned at Rs 86.39 crore, with Rs 63.25 crore utilised.
The sixth project, covering Gulmarg-Baramulla-Kupwara-Kargil-Leh, was sanctioned at Rs 96.75 crore, with Rs 85.80 crore released or authorised and Rs 84.93 crore utilised.
At the national level, the Ministry said 76 projects had been sanctioned under the original Swadesh Darshan Scheme at a total cost of Rs 5,295.24 crore. Of these, 75 projects were reported to be physically complete, with Rs 4,927.36 crore released or authorised and Rs 4,860.69 crore utilised.
The Ministry said the Swadesh Darshan Scheme has since been revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0, focusing on sustainable and responsible tourism development through a destination- and tourist-centric approach. Under SD2.0, 53 projects worth Rs 2,207.08 crore have been sanctioned across the country.
The Ministry also said 37 projects worth Rs 687.99 crore had been sanctioned under Challenge Based Destination Development, a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan 2.0, covering ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar, spiritual tourism, culture and heritage, and the Vibrant Village Programme.
It said progress of tourism projects is monitored through periodic review meetings with State Governments and Union Territory administrations, while a Programme Management Information System has been developed for digital monitoring, reporting and information sharing.
The Centre has also urged States and UTs to involve local communities and ensure proper operation and maintenance of completed projects to improve tourist footfall, generate local employment and enhance tourist satisfaction.
