Background
- Swadesh Darshan Scheme
- Launched in 2014-15 to develop theme-based tourist circuits.
- 76 projects sanctioned across 31 States/UTs with an allocation of ₹5,292.57 crore (2014-15 to 2018-19).
- Ministry: Ministry of Tourism
Key Findings from the CAG Audit
- Serious lapses identified
- Lack of feasibility studies before launching projects.
- Poor planning leading to budget overruns.
- Approvals given without Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
- Absence of formal evaluation and approval mechanisms.
- Failure to complete projects on time.
PAC Committee Concerns
- PAC Head: K.C. Venugopal (Congress senior leader).
- The Tourism Ministry claimed completion of 75 out of 76 projects.
- Committee refuted the claim, citing several incomplete or non-functional projects, including:
- Kanwaria route in Bihar
- Tribal circuit in Telangana
- Sree Narayana Guru Ashram in Kerala
- Committee members accused the Ministry of:
- Attempting to mislead rather than address deficiencies.
- Lack of transparency and accountability.
Committee Directives
- Ordered field inspections of all sanctioned projects.
- Ministry asked to submit a detailed report within three weeks, including:
- Actual project completion status.
- Maintenance and operational condition.
- Implementation and inter-agency coordination status.
- Impact on employment generation and tourist footfall.
