Uttarakhand has sought relaxation in Government of India tourism schemes and other measures for boosting tourism in the Himalayan State. Addressing the media here on Tuesday, Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Dinesh Dhanai said that he had met the Union Tourism Minister Sripad Yasho Naik on Monday and had sought special relaxation for Uttarakhand in GoI-funded tourism projects considering the specific geographical conditions in the State.
Dhanai said, "The projects approved by the Tourism ministry are required to be completed in two years, but we have proposed that considering the geographical conditions of Uttarakhand, this period should be increased from two to four-five years. There is provision for funds for boosting rural tourism through cluster plans under rural tourism projects approved by the Tourism ministry. For the last three years one cluster scheme has been receiving approval in principle from the ministry, but its execution has been pending due to delay in final/financial approval and clear guidelines from the ministry so we have sought these from the ministry. We have also sought that a national water sports institute be started in Uttarakhand on the lines of Goa. We have also requested that the State Government be authorised to change the location of an approved tourism project delayed due to unavailability of land and other factors," he informed.
In addition to the proposals already submitted to the ministry in the past, the State Government has also sought approval for development of the Dhanaulti-Kaddukhal-Chamba tourism circuit in Tehri district, development of the Malsi deer park in Dehradun, development of the Varuni Yatra -- circumambulation of the Varunavat mountain in Uttarkashi -- from the tourism point of view and construction of ropeway from Tehri dam reservoir (Khandkhala) to New Tehri town under the 13th Finance Commission. Stating that more than two lakh pilgrims had undertaken the Char Dham Yatra so far this year, Dhanai accepted that the State had not been able to send a clear message to attract tourists and pilgrims to Uttarakhand after the June 2013 disaster.
"Following the 2013 disaster, there is need for and effective and elaborate publicity campaign through various media to attract visitors to Uttarakhand once again. Considering the importance of public following the disaster and competition with other States, we have requested the ministry to provide `20 crore to Uttarakhand as a grant for tourism publicity. The Union Tourism minister also approved in principle various proposals of ours including light and sound show facilities at Haridwar, the beautification of the ghats in Haridwar and Rishikesh along with the beautification of Harkipaidi in Haridwar which the BHEl is also ready to undertake," added Dhanai.