(a) whether the Government is aware of the important places associated with Lord Buddha in Uttar Pradesh, especially in Maharajganj district;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to develop those historical places in Uttar Pradesh, especially in Maharajganj district by including them under the Bharat Darshan Circuit; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)
(a) to (d): Ministry of Tourism has identified Buddhist Circuit as one of the fifteen thematic circuits for development under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. All sites in the country related to Buddhism including the ones in Uttar Pradesh are covered under this Circuit.
The projects to be taken up for development under the above scheme are identified in consultation with the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and are sanctioned subject to submission of project proposals, their adherence to relevant scheme guidelines, submission of suitable detailed project reports, availability of funds and utilization of funds released earlier.
The Ministry has not received any project proposal for development of Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh. However, the Ministry has sanctioned the project “Development of Srawasti, Kushinagar & Kapilvastu in Uttar Pradesh” under the Buddhist Circuit theme of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the year 2016-17 for Rs.99.97 crore.
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