Parliament Question: Development of Pong Dam under SDS

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†4853 ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026 DEVELOPMENT OF PONG DAM UNDER SDS †4853. DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ: Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state: (a) whether Pong Dam area in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh has been identified under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS); (b) if so, the current status thereof; (c) whether survey work of Pong Dam area has been completed; and (d) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT) (a) to (d): Development of tourism infrastructure at different destinations including destination assessment, surveys etc. is primarily done by the concerned State Government (SG)/UT Administration (UTA). However, Ministry of Tourism through its various schemes including ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)’, ‘Challenge Based Destination Development – CBDD’ (an initiative under Swadesh Darshan scheme) etc. complement these efforts by providing financial assistance to SGs/UTAs for development of tourism infrastructure and experiences in the country, on receipt of the project proposals from them, in synergy with the scheme guidelines, Government directions, availability of funds, inter-se priority etc. ‘Pong Dam’ Himachal Pradesh was identified as a destination under SD2.0. However, presently the Ministry has sanctioned 1 project ‘Development of Maa Chintpurni Devi Temple, Una’ for Rs.56.26 Crore under SD2.0 and 2 projects viz. ‘Kaza under Culture and Heritage’ for Rs.24.82 Crore and ‘Tourism Infrastructure Development at Rakcham-Vibrant Village’ for Rs.4.96 Crore under CBDD programme in the state of Himachal Pradesh. *****