Question : OBJECTIVE OF HRIDAY SCHEME

(a) whether the Government has introduced Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) and Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) for the development of religious and Heritage cities;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the criteria to select heritage cities along with the details of monuments en- listed in preservation and conservation projects under the said schemes;

(c) the State-wise details of cities identified/selected for developing as Heritage cities in the country; and

(d) the funds allocated by the Government for the above schemes?

MINISTER OF STATE, CULTURE AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) AND MINISTER OF STATE, CIVIL AVIATION (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) Yes, Madam.

(b)&(c) Twelve cities namely Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Gaya(Bihar), Dwaraka(Gujarat), Amritsar(Punjab), Ajmer (Rajasthan), Kanchipuram(Tamil Nadu), Vellankani(Tamil Nadu), Puri(Odisha), Varanasi(Uttar Prasesh), Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Kedarnath (Uttarakhand) and Kamakhya (Assam) have been identified for development under Pil- grimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) by the Ministry of Tourism.

The Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme aimed at preserving and revitalizing the soul and unique character of the heritage cities in India, has been approved by the Ministry of Urban Development for the Twelve cities under the scheme in the first phase, namely; Amaravati(Andhra Pradesh); Gaya (Bihar); Dwarka (Gujarat), Badami(Karnataka); Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab); Ajmer(Rajasthan); Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu); Vellankani(Tamil Nadu); Warangal (Telangana); Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh); and Mathura (Uttar Pradesh).

The criterion for selection of these cities is their rich heritage and cultural history.

(d) To implement the PRASAD scheme a Mission Directorate has been set up in the Ministry of Tourism. The Budget provision of Rs.15.60 crore has been made in Revised Estimate (RE) 2014-15. For Development of basic faci- lities at Vishnupad Temple, Gaya in Bihar under this Scheme first installment of Rs.85.78 lakh has been released.

For the HRIDAY scheme under the Ministry of Urban Deve- lopment, an amount of Rs.453.90 crores has been allo- cated to the HRIDAY scheme for implementation and development works.