The Government of India is satisfied with the work done by the Uttarakhand Government for providing relief in the disaster affected areas.
Addressing the media after chairing a review meet along with the Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and others, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that the Government is considering the option of using helicopters to enable at least two batches of pilgrims to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from here.
Stating that the Central Government is concerned for Uttarakhand, Khurshid assured that it will provide all possible help to Uttarakhand in the relief and rebuilding process. “My ministry and the Tourism ministry will try to rebuild the trust of people around the world so that they may resume visiting Uttarakhand as tourists. Apart from this in order to encourage public diplomacy, I will be engaging in a public policy address with representatives of various sections of society at the Doon University on Saturday,” added Khurshid.
He further informed that his ministry had prepared a list of foreign nationals feared missing in the Uttarakhand disaster and along would provide inputs and assist the State with the list prepared by the Uttarakhand Government of foreign nationals feared missing. Apart from this efforts would be taken through the Indian Ambassador to Nepal on the missing Nepalese people, he added.
Earlier, the CM informed Khurshid that over 300 disaster affected villages had to be relocated. There had been an estimated loss over Rs 12,000 crore in the tourism sector alone. He said that along with exempting tax for businessmen associated with tourism, the State needed to construct separate routes to visit and return from a destination and construct tunnels in 200 identified slide zones.
He also said that since the permission for carrying river bed material had not been received as yet, there was excessive deposit of sand, gravel and boulders, thus turning the course of rivers. This was damaging the river banks. He pointed out that there was a difference between carrying and mining.
He asserted the need to hold seminars to spread awareness that a major part of the State was safe for tourism. He added that the Jolly Grant airport had night flying facilities as well for Boeing aircraft. Also, the Pantnagar airport has been extended. Arrangements had been made to land big aircraft there as well.
The CM stated that a major number of roads in the state were under the BRO, which therefore required greater resources. During the meeting, a presentation on the damage in the State was made and a list of missing people was given to the Union Minister.