The Chaurasi Kutiya used by Mahesh Yogi will be developed for tourism with the Tourism Department deciding to draft a plan with the Forest Department for this. This and various other decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Tourism Minister Amrita Rawat in view of the ongoing Char Dham Yatra season.
The Minister directed officials to prepare the detailed project report of tourism development schemes for Sitabani at Ramnagar within one week. Instructions were also issued for organising a meeting of the principal chief conservator of forests and the chief secretary to plan out the execution of these schemes on the ground. Officials were also directed to get a detailed plan prepared for the Ramnagar-Kosi tourism development scheme which will also entail the provision of parking facility and other facilities for the public. The department will also prepare a plan with the Forest Department for developing the Chaurasi Kutiya for tourism purposes.
In order to facilitate effective waste disposal along the Char Dham Yatra circuit, the Tourism Minister directed that the densification plant at Srinagar be reopened without delay and that the operation of the compacter at Sonprayag also be started. In this regard, the Tourism secretary Umakant Panwar telephoned the Haridwar district magistrate and directed him to prepare a detailed plan for disposal of garbage in the city. The Tourism department has also developed 101 public facilities between Sonprayag and Kedarnath. The agency concerned informed that all these facilities are being operated properly and in addition to these temporary flexi-toilets will be established along the Char Dham Yatra circuit in the next four to five days. The representative of State government’s agency UIPC, informed the Tourism minister that the official formalities related to the construction of two kilometres long ropeway from Ghangharia to Hemkund are in the final stages. The construction of this ropeway is expected to cost about `50 crore.
Additional secretary, Tourism, Sachin Kurve, officials of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and Tourism Department were also among those present in the review meeting.