Question : DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHIST PLACES

(a) whether the Government are receiving assistance from Japanese Government for the development of Buddhist places; and

(b) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF TOURISM AND CULTURE (SHRI ANANTHKUMAR)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The Government entered into a loan agreement with the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) of Japan in January, 1992 for conservation and development of Ajanta & Ellora in Maharashtra. The Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund assistance is to the tune of 3745 million Japanese Yen. The major components of the project are afforestation, upgradation of airport facilities at Aurangabad, strengthening and improvement of roads, augmentation of water supply and sewage, improvement of electricity supply, conservation of monuments and visitors management facilities.

The Government had also entered into a loan agreement with the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) of Japan in December, 1988 for development of infrastructure facilities along with identified Buddhist circuit in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It was agreed that Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund would extend financial assistance to the tune of 7.7 billion Japanese Yen. The major components of the project were strengthening of National Highways, State Highways, landscaping, augmentation of water and electricity supply, provision of wayside amenities etc. The places covered under this project are Sarnath, Kushinagar, Piprahawa, Sravasti in Uttar Pradesh and Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali in Bihar. The project has been completed.