The Ministry of Tourism sanctioned a special financial package of Rs 100 crore for restoration and reconstruction of the affected Government tourist facilities in Uttarakhand on Wednesday.
This will be in addition to the Central financial assistance of about Rs 95 crore, which has already been sanctioned during the current financial year for developing tourism infrastructure in the State.
“Uttarakhand has recently witnessed an unprecedented natural calamity that has caused colossal damage to both life and infrastructure in the state. As Uttarakhand is among the most favoured destinations for both Indian and foreign tourists alike it is our responsibility to fund the reconstruction of infrastructure there,” said an official from the Tourism Ministry.
Minister of Tourism K Chiranjeevi has also written to the State Government to assess the destroyed and damaged tourist amenities and conveniences and come back with the requirement of funds for rebuilding the infrastructure. On examination of the demand, he said, that the Ministry of Tourism will sanction additional funds.
“The funds sanctioned in the relief package will be utilised for restoration and reconstruction of tourist infrastructure across the State with a special focus on tourist facilities along yatra route which will be used for providing shelter to the disaster-hit pilgrims and tourists,” said the official.
The Minister has also met the representatives of the hotel industry, tour operators, travel agents and all other stakeholders in the travel and tourism trade for coordinating the travel trades donations to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the reconstruction of the tourism industry in Uttarakhand. Chiranjeevi had earlier donated Rs 1 crore from his MPlADS funds for Uttarakhand.
last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced a relief package of Rs 1,000 crore, following which even the Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh sanctioned a special package of Rs 340 crore for flood-ravaged Uttarakhand.
Ramesh had said that the Rural Development Ministry was working towards giving special assistance to Uttarakhand for constructing village houses under the Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) scheme. Ramesh had also hinted that his Ministry was prepared to sanction another Rs 100 crore for rural housing, if the State required.