With nature’s fury continuing to ruin basic infrastructure, the State tourism department that plays a significant part in the economy of Uttarakhand claims to have suffered losses amounting to over Rs 60 crore in the recent disaster which hit the mountain State following the early arrival of the monsoon.
This is preliminary estimation of the losses particularly on basic infrastructure front, said the officials of the Tourism Development Council (TDC), Dehradun. Since the study of the losses suffered continues, it is difficult to give a final account of the infrastructural loss to the State tourism sector across the State.
The State tourism department faced a maximum loss worth Rs 32 crore to the basic infrastructure in Rudraprayag district during the catastrophe, while in Chamoli district it suffered nearly Rs 10 crore loss due to damage to its basic infrastructure like guest houses and resorts following heavy rainfall.
In Uttarkashi, the State tourism department claims to have so far suffered a loss of nearly Rs 8 crore, while the damage to its basic amenities in Tehri has been estimated at about Rs 5.5 crore, maintained TDC officials.
Damage caused to its properties in districts like Pauri, Pithoragarh and Dehradun is not less alarming. According to the TDC officials, loss amounting to Rs 1.70 crore has been estimated on account of damage to basic infrastructures in Pauri, followed by Rs 1.55 crore in Pithoragarh and Rs 1.25 crore in Dehradun.
Following damage to its basic infrastructure, the State tourism department claims to have suffered loss of Rs 30 lakh in Champawat district followed by Rs 20 lakh in Haridwar, Rs 19 lakh in Almora, Rs 18 lakh in Bageshwar and Rs 7.50 lakh in Udham Singh Nagar.
“These are initial figures of losses that we have to bear with now due to damage to our properties in almost all parts of the State,” said TDC joint director AK Dwivedi while talking to The Pioneer.
It may take some more time to assess the entire loss that the tourism department has suffered due to the disaster, he added. Collapse of basic infrastructure of the tourism department to such large extent in the devastating rainfall has come as a serious concern for the Government.