Disruption in the Char Dham pilgrimage this year due to devastating monsoon cost the Uttarakhand Tourism department a huge loss of over Rs 150 crore.
With nature's fury continuing to inflict huge damage both in terms of life and property till the fag end of monsoon in September, the State Tourism department that plays a significant part in the economy of the Himalayan State, claims to have suffered losses over Rs 60 crore alone on basic infrastructure front as the officials concerned of the Tourism Development Council (TDC), Dehradun, said.
"Since estimation of losses that we have suffered continues, therefore the total loss that the tourism sector has suffered could be even more than Rs 150 crore," added the officials concerned of the State tourism department.
"Out of this, about Rs 60 crore loss to infrastructure, the State Tourism department faced a maximum loss worth Rs 32 crore to the basic infrastructure in Rudraprayag district during the catastrophe, while in Chamoli district it suffered nearly 10 crore loss due to damage to its basic infrastructure like guest houses, resorts to name a few by the devastating rainfall."
Similarly, on account of damage to its properties in Uttarkashi, the State Tourism department claims to have so far suffered a loss of nearly Rs 8 crore, while the damage to its basic amenities in Tehari has been estimated about Rs 5.5 crore, as the official concerned of the TDC informed.
Damage caused to its properties in districts like Pauri, Pithoragarh and Dehradun is not less alarming.
According to the officials concerned of the TDC, loss worth Rs 1.70 crore has been estimated on account of damage to basic infrastructures in Pauri, followed by Rs 1.55 crore in Pithoragarh and Rs 1.25 crore in Dehradun.
Meanwhile, following damage to its basic infrastructure due to devastating rainfall and cloudbursts, the State Tourism department claims to have suffered loss of Rs 30 lakh in Champawat district followed by Rs 20 lakh in Haridwar, Rs 19 lakh in Almora, Rs 18 lakh in Bageshwar and Rs 7.50 lakh in Udham Singh Nagar.
"The loss that the Tourism department has suffered due to the natural calamity could be more than Rs 150 crore," AK Dwivedi, Additional Director, TDC, told The Pioneer.
"But apart from the Government of India, we are also seeking the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank to rebuild the basic infrastructure," he added.