Departmental officials should encourage the local residents to learn under different skill development programmes. The tourism secretary Dilip Jawalkar said this while reviewing the development works under the district sector, state sector and centrally funded projects in Uttarkashi on Monday.

In the meeting, the secretary directed officials to facilitate the training of people to promote wood handicrafts in the district. He said that officials should encourage people to learn under various skill development programs. This will help them to get employment for constructing various buildings, resorts, houses and other activities. He also gave instructions to the industries general manager to prepare traditional souvenirs for tourists visiting the district or the state.

Jawalkar said that the growth centre is an important scheme and it needs to be implemented effectively.  He directed officials to establish a display at the tourism growth centre, Raithal, and place traditional items in the area so that the tourists become familiar with the local items.  He directed that work should be done to promote the local goods and products at national and international levels. He further said that the riverfront should be developed at Harshil by developing a tourism hub under the chief minister's border development scheme. 

The secretary also inspected the proposed adventure tourism park in Varunavat. Officials informed that bird watching trail, MTB off-road trail, children's entertainment park, and various viewpoints will be constructed as part of the proposed park. An adventure activity park is also proposed within the same which will include activities like commando net, skywalk, plank walk, wall climbing and bungee jumping among others.

The Uttarkashi district magistrate Mayur Dixit, divisional forest officer Deepchand Arya, chief development officer PC Dandriyal, chief medical officer Dr DP Joshi and other officials concerned were also present in the meeting.