While explaining how the State Government has been trying hard to boost tourism before a group of industrialists in Haridwar on Monday, State Tourism and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj said that they are working on plans to link the hill areas of the State with ropeways on the line of what is existing in Switzerland.
“In the first phase, Haridwar would be linked with Rishikesh while Dehradun would be linked with Mussoorie. Once completed, the ropeways would reduce the burden on the roads. Besides, we are seriously working on developing Tehri dam reservoir as an international tourism point. More would come up to boost adventure tourism in the State. A 80 km-long lake from Pancheshwar dam in Kumaon is another of the slew of plans we have firmed up to revamp the tourism sector,” said the Minister while addressing a seminar held in SIIDCUl. He said that the State Government is now gearing up for the 2021 Kumbh slated in Haridwar. “Cities would be given a face lift while the National Highways would be widened,” he said.
He agreed to the views of the industrialists that tourism must be linked with industry to let the former thrive. He also assured them that a State level policy on the matter would be evolved soon, adding that a single-window system has been introduced to free the industrial sector from red-tapism.
Maharaj exhorted all concerned to help the local fairs and traditions get placed on the world platform. “There must be a presence of Uttarakhand in terms of its timeless traditions on the world tourism scene. We would provide all kinds of help to the industrialists to transform the State developmentally,” the Minister said.
Chairman, SIIDCUl Manufacturers’ Association of Uttarakhand Harendra Garg said that they are working hard to stop the exodus of the people from the hilly villages by linking tourism with industry.
“We have forwarded a proposal to the State Government to use the lands lying on the banks of canals for herbal tree plantation or to develop solar plant projects. There is no dearth of such lands which are mostly lying unused. This can be done in PPP mode. This would benefit the State Government, in general, and the irrigation department, in particular, in terms of revenue generation,” said Garg.
The industrialists present at the seminar asked the tourism Minister to take initiatives of expanding the aviation route involving the city.