NEW DELHI, March 10: The Central Government has sanctioned ₹89.48 crore for the Loktak Lake Experience Project in Manipur under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale. Despite the release of ₹59.05 crore, the State Government has yet to submit a utilization certificate, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Lok Sabha.

In response to an unstarred question raised by MP Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Shekhawat emphasized that the Centre is collaborating with states to develop 50 key tourist destinations across the country through a challenge mode initiative, as outlined in the Union Budget 2025-26. Under this initiative, states are required to provide land for infrastructure development, with hotels at these locations included in the Harmonized List of Infrastructure to attract investments.

Shekhawat also noted that, during a review meeting held on February 11, 2025, the Central Government urged Manipur to expedite the implementation of the Loktak Lake Experience Project, given its potential to boost tourism in the state.

Additionally, the Minister highlighted the Centre’s continued support for the tourism sector in Manipur through the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Under this program, two significant tourism projects were sanctioned: The Imphal-Khongjom Tourist Circuit, approved in 2015-16, which received a sanctioned amount of ₹72.23 crore, with ₹61.32 crore released and ₹61.25 crore utilized; and the Spiritual Circuit Project (2016-17), covering Shri Govindajee Temple, Shri Bijoy Govindajee Temple, Shri Gopinath Temple, Shri Bungshibodon Temple, and Shri Kaina Temple, which had a sanctioned amount of ₹45.34 crore, with ₹45.33 crore released and ₹43.04 crore utilized.