A separate directorate for adventure activities will be established in the state. Further, a Sita Mata circuit will be developed in Pauri district in addition to development of infrastructural facilities amounting to Rs 200 crore. Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said this while addressing the media in Pauri on Sunday.
The chief minister was in Pauri to attend various programmes held to mark 50 years of the Garhwal commissionerate here. Addressing the media at the circuit house here on Sunday, he informed about various decisions taken for the development of Pauri and other mountainous regions of the state.
Rawat said that Sita Mata circuit will be developed in Pauri. The ancient Raghunath temple in Devprayag, Lakshman temple in Deval and Sita Mata temple in Falswadi will be linked and publicised as Sita Mata circuit for religious tourism. The locals hold these shrines in great reverence but others are unaware of the significance.
The chief minister further said that infrastructural development works amounting to Rs 200 crore will be undertaken in Pauri. Officials have been directed to prepare a detailed project report for this purpose. With this amount, parks will be renovated, mall road will be developed, Pauri bus station- Kandoliya-Kinkaleshwar ropeway will be constructed and various facilities will be developed at Pauri, Khirsu, Satpuli, Jaiharikhal and other places. Rawat further said that with the cooperation of the people, an attempt will be made to introduce colour culture in Pauri. As in Pink City Jaipur, an attempt will be made to make all buildings in Pauri same in colour. This will give a new identity to Pauri city. The people will also be encouraged to utilise traditional mountain architecture while constructing buildings. Provision has also been made for this purpose in the housing policy. Buildings in traditional architectural style will also introduce the visitors to such aspects of the state’s culture, he said.
The CM further informed that a separate directorate will be established for adventure activities. An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer will be handed the responsibility of the directorate. This decision has been taken to attract high value tourism in the state. The adventure activities will include mountaineering, trekking, rock climbing, mountain biking, zip-wire cycling, bungee jumping, hot air ballooning, paragliding and water sports among others. The aim of the state government is to maximise the number of high-spending tourists to enhance the income of the local youth involved in tourism related businesses. Rawat also informed that land had been approved in Deval for construction of NCC academy. After construction of the academy, up to 40,000 persons would come here for training. This will boost economic activities here and also benefit the local residents. People from across the nation will get to know Pauri which in turn will also boost tourism.
The biggest tulip garden of India will be developed at Pithoragarh. This garden will be developed on about 50 hectare area at a cost of Rs 50 crore. One will be able to view tulip flowers here eight months in a year. Rawat further informed that efforts are also being made to expand the Pithoragarh airstrip. A memorandum of understanding is to be signed for sea-plan operation from the Tehri dam reservoir. Stating that there has been an increase in number of visitors to Tehri, he said that the efforts of the government are moving in the right direction.