Shimla, July 27: In a major step towards strengthening tourism infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh, the Central Government has approved ₹56.26 crore for the comprehensive development of the revered Maa Chintpurni Temple under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme for the financial year 2024–25. This was announced by Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in response to a question raised by Kangra MP Dr. Rajeev Bhardwaj in the Lok Sabha.
The Union Minister also informed the House that under the Challenge-Based Destination Development Scheme, investments are being made in other parts of Himachal as well. These include ₹24.82 crore for developing tourism infrastructure in Kaza (Lahaul-Spiti district) and ₹4.96 crore for strengthening basic amenities in the Rakchham-Chitkul region.
He further highlighted that earlier in 2016–17, under the first phase of the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, ₹68.34 crore was sanctioned for the development of the Himalayan Circuit, which included key tourist destinations such as Kiarighat, Shimla, Haatkoti, Manali, Kangra, Dharamshala, Bir, Palampur, and Chamba.
During the session, the issue of leakage in Dal Lake (Dharamshala) was also raised. In response, the Union Minister clarified that the maintenance and conservation of water bodies fall under the state government’s jurisdiction, and the Centre does not have a dedicated scheme for such matters.
These initiatives are expected to give a significant boost to tourism in Himachal Pradesh, enhancing the state’s economy while also generating employment opportunities for locals.
