Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Tourism addressed a question in Lok Sabha regarding the development of Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary as an ecotourism destination. While the Ministry encourages sustainable tourism and provides financial assistance to states for tourism projects through various schemes, the Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary is not currently enlisted for consideration under these schemes. However, funds have been released to the sanctuary under the Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme.
Key Points / Main Content:
Government Schemes and Financial Assistance:
* Tourism development is primarily undertaken by State Governments/UT Administrations.
* The Ministry of Tourism complements these efforts through schemes like Swadesh Darshan (SD), Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), PRASHAD, and Assistance to Central Agencies (ACA).
* Financial assistance is extended subject to scheme guidelines, DPR submission, fund availability, and priority.
* Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) is also provided for tourism projects.
* Schemes encourage sustainable tourism, community participation, and local consultations.
* Approved works include nature trails, log huts, cafeterias, and interpretation centers.
Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary:
* Currently, no project for the development of Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary is enlisted for consideration under the Ministry of Tourism schemes.
* Funds have been released to Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary under the Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme:
* 2022-2023: ₹27.94 lakhs
* 2023-2024: ₹34.85 lakhs
* 2024-2025: ₹44.08 lakhs
Promotion of Tourism and Training:
* Guidelines for 'Development of Homestays in Tribal Areas' have been issued.
* The Incredible India Tourist Facilitator Certification (IITFC) program aims to increase the number of trained tourist facilitators and guides.
* The 'Paryatan Mitra' and 'Paryatan Didi' initiative has trained approximately 3994 candidates till March 2025.
* Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued guidelines on sustainable ecotourism in forest and wildlife areas 2021.
Projects Sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh:
* Several projects have been sanctioned in Uttar Pradesh under various schemes, including those related to Buddhist, Ramayana, and Spiritual circuits, as detailed in the annexure.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments/UT Administrations:
* Impact: Responsible for the development and promotion of tourist destinations. Can receive financial assistance from the Ministry of Tourism for tourism infrastructure development.
* Action Required: Adhere to scheme guidelines, submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), and prioritize projects. Undertake operation and management of sanctioned projects.
Ministry of Tourism:
* Impact: Responsible for complementing the efforts of State Governments/UT Administrations through central sector schemes by extending financial assistance.
* Action Required: Continue to encourage adoption of principles of sustainable tourism, community participation and local consultations.
Local Residents/Tribal Communities:
* Impact: Potential beneficiaries of self-employment and training programs related to tourism.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs such as IITFC, 'Paryatan Mitra', and 'Paryatan Didi' to enhance skills and employment opportunities.
Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary (Balrampur and Shravasti districts of Uttar Pradesh):
* Impact: While no specific project is currently enlisted, the sanctuary receives funds under the Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme.
* Action Required: Continue to utilize allocated funds for conservation, management of wildlife and development of habitats, including ecotourism activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary: A wildlife sanctuary located in Balrampur and Shravasti districts of Uttar Pradesh along the Nepal border, considered for ecotourism development.
Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh: A district in Uttar Pradesh, India, where Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary is located.
Shravasti, Uttar Pradesh: A district in Uttar Pradesh, India, where Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary is located.
Swadesh Darshan Yojana: A central sector scheme of the Ministry of Tourism for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.
PRASHAD Yojana: Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive, a scheme by the Ministry of Tourism.
Ministry of Tourism: The Government of India ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and policies relating to the development and promotion of tourism in India.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where several tourism projects are sanctioned under various schemes of the Ministry of Tourism.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: A ministry of the Government of India that issued guidelines on sustainable ecotourism in forest and wildlife areas in 2021.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2529
ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
DEVELOPMENT OF SUHELWA WILDLIFE
SANCTUARY UNDER ECO-TOURISM
†2529. SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has any plan to develop Suhelwa Wildlife
Sanctuary, located in Balrampur and Shravasti districts of Uttar
Pradesh along the Nepal border, as an eco-tourism destination in
Eco-tourism circuit or Buddhist Circuit;
(b) whether the Government proposes to develop these districts under
"Swadesh Darshan Yojana", "Prasad Yojana", or any other rural or
eco-tourism project;
(c) if so, the details thereof along with funds allocated therefor;
(d) whether the Government proposes to provide nature trails, wildlife
observation centres, training for local guides and eco-lodges, eco-
cafe or camping facilities in the area with coordination of the Central
and State Governments;
(e) whether any integrated programme has been initiated to provide self-
employment and training to local residents, particularly forest-
dwelling tribal communities for the development of this area;
(f) if so, the latest progress regarding these efforts, expenditure details
and the number of people benefited; and
(g) whether local Gram Panchayats have been roped in for smooth
operations of tourism services and if so, the details of the action
taken during the last three years along with the details of the
proposed schemes thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) to (g): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and tourism
products is primarily undertaken by the respective State Government/
Union Territory (UT) Administration. However, the Ministry of Tourismthrough its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD)’, Swadesh
Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0), ‘Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD)’ –
a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan, ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual,
Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ and ‘Assistance to Central
Agencies (ACA) for Tourism Infrastructure Development’ schemes
complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development by
extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT
Administrations/ Central Agencies; subject to adherence to scheme
guidelines, submission of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), availability of
funds, inter-se priority etc. In addition, Government of India under its
initiative for ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)’
has also provided financial assistance to the States for development of
tourism projects. The projects sanctioned under above mentioned scheme
cover multiple aspects including eco-tourism, wildlife etc.
The Ministry of Tourism under the above-mentioned schemes
encourages adoption of principles of sustainable tourism, community
participation and local consultations. Further, operation and management
of the sanctioned projects is undertaken by the concerned State
Government. A variety of works such as development of nature trails, log
huts, cafeteria, interpretation centres, shelters, parking, last mile
connectivity etc. are approved under sanctioned projects depending on its
nature. Details of sanctioned projects under the SD, SD2.0, CBDD,
PRASHAD, ACA and SASCI schemes in the State of Uttar Pradesh is
annexed.
There is no project for the development of Suhelwa Wildlife
Sanctuary, located in Balrampur and Shravasti districts of Uttar Pradesh
presently enlisted for consideration by the Ministry of Tourism under above
mentioned schemes.
The Ministry of Tourism with the aim to promote tourism in tribal areas,
recently issued guidelines for 'Development of Homestays in Tribal Areas'
along with template for formulation of proposal by State Governments and
UT Administrations.
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has entrusted Incredible
India Tourist Facilitator Certification (IITFC) to increase the number of
Trained Tourist Facilitators and Guides to cater to the need of Indian
Tourism Industry for optimum use of Incredible Indian Tourism
environment. The programme commenced in 2020 and the details of the
training extended in this regard is as under:Course Enrolment Data Passout/ OCC Downloaded Data
Course Enrolments Nos. Remarks
Basic (IITFC) 14259 7014 NA
Refresher 2770 2652 Candidates downloaded the
OCC certificate
IITG-Advance 2084 374 In two phases
(Heritage)
Linguistic - 206 NA
The Ministry of Tourism also launched a national responsible tourism
initiative by the name of 'Paryatan Mitra' and 'Paryatan Didi' under which
around 3994 candidates have been trained till March, 2025.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has
informed that it has issued guidelines on sustainable eco-tourism in forest
and wildlife areas 2021. The Ministry provides financial assistance to
State/UTs under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Development of Wildlife
Habitats” for conservation and management of Wildlife and development of
its habitats, as per the Annual Plan of operations (APOs) received from
States/UTs, including state of Uttar Pradesh. The activities supported
under the scheme includes eco-tourism. No funds have been allocated to
the Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary for eco-tourism activity.
Details of funds released to Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary under the
Scheme during the last three years is as below:
Year Funds released (₹ in lakhs)
2022-2023 27.94
2023-2024 34.85
2024-2025 44.08
*******ANNEXURE
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (g) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO.†2529 ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025 REGARDING
DEVELOPMENT OF SUHELWA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY UNDER ECO-
TOURISM RAISED BY SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA
List of projects sanctioned in the State of Uttar Pradesh under Ministry of
Tourism Schemes:-
S. Name of the Project Circuit/ Sanctioned
No. Sanction Amount
Year (₹ in Crore)
Swadesh Darshan
1 Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar, & Buddhist 87.89
Kapilwastu Circuit
2016-17
2 Development of Chitrakoot and Shringverpur Ramayana 69.45
Circuit
2016-17
3 Development of Ahar-Aligarh-Kasganj-Sarosi Spiritual 71.91
(Unnao)-Pratapgarh- Kausambi-Mirzapur- Circuit
Gorakhpur-Domariyaganj-Basti-Barabanki- 2016-17
Azamgarh-Kairana- Baghpat- Shahjahanpur
4 Development of Bijnor- Meerut- Kanpur- Spiritual 67.51
Kanpur Dehat- Banda- Ghazipur- Salempur- Circuit
Ghosi- Balia- Ambedkar Nagar- Aligarh- 2016-17
Fatehpur- Deoria- Mahoba- Sonbhadra-
Chandauli- Mishrikh- Bhadohi
5 Development of Kalinjar Fort (Banda)- Heritage 36.65
MagharDham (SantKabir Nagar)- Circuit
ChauriChaura, Shaheed Sthal (Fatehpur)- 2016-17
MahuarshaheedSthal (Ghosi)- Shaheed
Smarak (Meerut)
6 Development of Ayodhya Ramayana 127.21
Circuit
2017-18
7 Development of Jewar-Dadri-Sikandrabad- Spiritual 12.03
Noida-Khurja-Banda Circuit
2018-19
8 Development of Gorakhnath Temple Spiritual 18.30
(Gorakhpur), Devipattan Temple (Balrampur) Circuitand Vatvashni Temple (Domariyagunj) 2018-19
PRASHAD Scheme
1 Development of Varanasi –Phase –I 2015-16 18.73
2 Development of Mathura-Vrindavan as Mega 2014-15 10.98
Tourist Circuit (Ph-II)
3 Development of River Cruise Tourism at 2017-18 9.02
Varanasi
4 Construction of Tourist Facilitation Centre at 2014-15 9.36
Vrindavan
5 Development of Varanasi – Phase II 2017-18 44.60
6 Development of Infrastructure facilities at 2018-19 37.59
Govardhan
Swadesh Darshan 2.0
1 “Azad Park and Dekho Prayagraj Trail Exp” 2023-24 14.52
2 Vedic- wellness Experience at Naimisaranya’’ 2023-24 17.80
CBDD
1 Development of Cultural Landscape at 2024-25 24.98
Mahoba
Assistance to Central Agencies
1 Joint Development of Agra Cantt. Railway 2013-14 5.05
Station
2 Joint Development of Rai-Bareilly Railway 2013-14 4.44
Station
3 Illumination of monuments in Varanasi/Sarnath 2014-15 5.12
(Dhamekh Stupa in SarnathChaukhandi Stupa
in Sarnath, Tomb of Lalkan in Sarnath and Man
Mahal in Banaras)
4 Illumination of three monuments in Varanasi, 2017-18 2.93
Uttar Pradesh-
1. Dashashwamedh Ghat to Darbanga Ghat
(stretch of 300 m)
2. Tulsi Manas Mandir
3. Sarnath Museum
Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)
1 Development of Bateshwar in District-Agra 2024-25 74.05
2 Integrated Buddhist Tourism Development in 2024-25 80.24
Shrawasti
*****