The State Government is making efforts to develop facilities like parking spaces all around Mussoorie with various works amounting to more than `100 crore being approved or in process in the last two years. Chief Minister Harish Rawat said this after unveiling the foundation of parking facility at Sahastradhara here on Monday.
Addressing the gathering, the CM said that Sahastradhara will be developed in to a major tourist destination and working plans will be drafted for involving locals in management of tourist spots- as in the case of this parking facility which will be managed on local basis.
A survey will be conducted to facilitate more development of the artificial lake at Sahastradhara.
Rawat said, “The Government should play the role of facilitator for ensuring active involvement of locals. Public houses will be developed near tourist spots and highways providing traditional food items and traditional handicrafts for sale. Much work has been done on roads but we have not been able to develop villages into production centres. Due to this, the market has products from outside the State which local products do not get opportunity. We are trying to revive the rural economy by encouraging local products and building attraction to our food products and handicrafts.”
Rawat said that the Government is linking all its programmes and schemes with livelihood and individual income rise. Various decisions have been taken towards facilitating employment in villages, for women and youth. He further said, “About 40,000 persons will be provided with jobs while an equal number of employment opportunities are also being generated. About 12,000 people have been given jobs so far,” added Rawat.
The CM also spoke of the various developmental efforts and schemes including formation of tea commission, provision of water bonus for conservation and collection of water and monetary incentive for tree plantation among others. Priority will have to be accorded to agriculture, education and crafts, said Rawat.
Speaking on the occasion, the State Tourism minister Dinesh Dhanai said that construction of the parking facility at Sahastradhara tourist spot will benefit both the visitors and locals. Due to efforts being undertaken by the government, people outside Uttarakhand are now recognising traditional crops like Mandua (finger millet) and Jhangora among others, averred Dhanai.
Tourism secretary Shailesh Bagauli informed that the parking facility at Sahastradhara will be built at a cost of about `27.78 crore with parking capacity for 120 cars and 35 buses with ground plus one floor covered parking. Provision has also been made for a restaurant, washrooms, drivers’ waiting room and a steel bridge 90 metres in length and 12 metres wide, he said. Mussoorie MlA Ganesh Joshi and Mussoorie municipality chairman Manmohan Mall were also among those present on the occasion.