Question : TOURIST FACILITIES IN MADHYA PRADESH

(a) the amount proposed to be allocated for the extension of tourist facilities in Madhya Pradesh by Eleventh Finance Commission;

(b) whether any plan for tourism development has been drawn up for the utilisation of the fund;

(c) the time by which the activities of tourism development in Madhya Pradesh as recommended by Finance Commission is likely to be started and completed;

(d) the name of the authority monitoring for the developmental activities of proposed tourism;

(e) whether the escalation cost owing to the delay in development activities has also been allocated;

(f) if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the details of activities being carried out in other States in this regard, State- wise?

MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE (SHRI ANANTHKUMAR)


(a) The Eleventh Finance Commission has not recommended any grant to any State for purpose of tourist facilities per se. However, special consideration has been shown in the chapter `Upgradation and Special problem grants` by recommended grant of Rs.45.00 crores to Madhya Pradesh for development of tourism related infrastructure.


(b) The State Government of Madhya Pradesh have submitted an Action Plan for development of infrastructure for tourism to the Ministry of Finance.


(c) Once the project has been sanctioned by the State Level Empowered Committee, a copy of the same indicating the time schedule for various stages of the project and for requirement of funds is required to be submitted to the Government of India.


(d) Inter-Ministerial Empowered Committee chaired by a senior officer of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India is the authority monitoring for the developmental activities of the proposed tourism projects.


(e)& (f) The authority to sanction individual schemes as well as to determine the unit costs vests with the State Level Empowered Committee.


(g) Eleventh Finance Commission does not provide any grant to any State for the purpose of tourist facilities per se, though some activities with a bearing on tourism find mention in the chapter on `upgradation and special problems grants`.