Question : CONSTRUCTION OF ECO- HUTS TO ENCOURAGE ECO -TOURISM

(a) whether the Government has received any proposals from the various States for develo- pment and promotion of eco-tourism;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the status of the proposals along with the funds allocated and expenditure incurred by the Government during the last three years, State-wise;

(c) the sites/locations identified including backward and scheduled tribe areas for the promotion of eco-tourism;

(d) whether the Government has objected the setting up of eco-huts for the promotion of eco-tourism; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Gove- rnment for the construction of eco-huts to en- courage eco-tourism in the country?

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

(a), (b) & (c): Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products including Eco-tourism and implementation of tourism projects is primarily the responsibility of the respective State Government/ Union Territory (UT) Administration. The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to various State Governments/Union Territory Adminis- trations for various tourism projects including ones with a focus on EcoTourism, prioritized in consulta- tion with them every year subject to availability of funds, inter-se priority and adherence to the scheme guidelines.

The details of tourism projects with a focus on Eco- Tourism for which Central Financial Assistance (CFA) has been sanctioned/released to various State Gover- nments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations during the last three years and the current financial year up to 31.12.2014 are given in the Annexure.

(d) & (e): Under Product Infrastructure Development for Destinations & Circuits (PIDDC) scheme of the Ministry of Tourism there is a provision for cons- truction of Budget Accommodation relating to eco tourism projects.