After spending about Rs 3 crore on a two-day adventure tourism festival focused on the Tehri dam reservoir, the authorities appear to have forgotten this destination. The dam reservoir now bears a deserted look though a couple of days ago elected public representatives and Government officials were claiming that this tourism festival was aimed at developing the site into a hub of adventure tourism. Many people reached the dam reservoir looking to enjoy rafting and other adventure sports on Sunday but had to return disappointed with no such avenues available there.
The locals complain that the local traders were totally ignored by the authorities organising the tourism festival for which all arrangements were made through businessmen in Dehradun or Delhi. locals further point out that organising the tourism festival would have been meaningful had the adventure sports activities continued on the dam reservoir after the conclusion of the event. In the name of organising Tehri lake adventure tourism festival, the State Government spent about Rs three crore on organising workshops on paragliding, kayaking, rafting, hot air balloon and discussions with those involved in the tourism and travel business.
However, the locals complain that they have not benefitted in any way from this event so far. The local traders claimed that during the festival the tent, catering, light and other arrangements had been made through traders based in Delhi and Dehradun even though the same facilities were also available locally as well. local traders Ramesh Kant, Sita Ram and others claimed that the Tourism department and district administration ignored the local traders completely.