New Delhi: The development and promotion of tourism including organizing tourism related festivals is primarily undertaken by the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations. However, Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistances for projects which are prioritized under various schemes such as Product/ Infrastructure Development of Destinations/Circuits (PIDDC), Fairs & Festivals, Information Technology and Rural Tourism Projects. No proposal has been received for Ganga-Darshan festival from the State Government of Uttarakhand in the year 2011-12.

Ministry of Tourism has not sanctioned any project for organizing Ganga-Darshan Festival in Uttarakhand during the last three years. However, Ministry has provided Central Financial Assistance under various schemes like Product/Infrastructure Development of Destinations/Circuits, Fairs and Festivals, Rural Tourism etc. for development of tourism in Uttarakhand during the last three years as under:

S. No.
Year
Amount sanctioned (Rs. in crore)
1
2008-09
44.68
2
2009-10
0.55
3
2010-11
29.78

As per information received from the State Government of Uttarakhand, tourism has not been adversely affected by the construction of hydro-power projects on Ganga.

As per information furnished by the State Government of Jammu and Kashmir, the name of the ‘Sindhu Darshan’ Festival was changed on 08.06.2007. The decision to change ‘Sindhu Darshan’ festival as ‘Singhe Khababs Spring Festival’ has been taken by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh. It is basically renaming the festival in local parlance and also to give a local touch to this festival and respect to the local sentiments and maintaining sanctity of Majestic Singhe Khababs (Sindhu/Indus River) the name of the festival has been modified.

This information was given by the Minister of State of Tourism, Shri Sultan Ahmed in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.