Question : DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS PLACES

(a) whether a number of religious places of tourist interest are in bad shape in terms for required facilities for promotion of domestic tourism;

(b) if so, whether the government have taken fresh initiatives to identify such places to attract rousts by creating and strengthening supporting infrastructure facilities;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the names of places in Maharashtra identified for promotion of domestic religious tourism, and financial assistance given for development of tourist infrastructure during the current year, project-wise?

MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE

(SHRI ANANTH KUMAR)

(a)(b)&(c) : The Development of Tourism infrastructure including the religious places is primarily the responsibility of the State/Uts. Govt. concerned. However, the Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance for specific projects prioritised in consultation with them every year.

(d): the Committee on Pilgrim Tourism has identified three religious places namely Shirdi, Nanded, Jyotiba in Maharashtra for the develop- ment of pilgrim tourism. No proposal has been received from the State Government of Maharashtra seeking Central Financial Assistance during the current financial year 2000-2001. However, the following projects have been sanctioned during 1999-2000.

(1) Construction of Yatri Niwas at Jyotiba (Amount Sanctioned Rs. 48.39 Lakhs).

(2) Construction of Yatri Niwas at Nanded (Amount Sanctioned Rs. 48.77 Lakhs).

(3) Upgradation of rooms at Shirdi (Amount Sanctioned Rs. 21.50 Lakhs).