The chief minister of Uttrakhand has assured all possible assistance to the investors’ community to develop Tehri region as a major international tourism destination. Recognizing Tehri as the next big frontier for tourism development in the state, he said his government is working on a master plan which would provision for private investment in a big way.
“We have been somewhat slow in the past but we realize that the eco potential of Tehri is immense. The beauty of the place is unique and with our emphasis on tourism development, it will not only uplift the economic condition of the region but will also become a major asset for country’s tourism,” Uttrankhand CM Harish Rawat said at the inauguration of Tehri Lake Festival last Saturday. On the sidelines of the second edition of the cultural festival, the state tourism department also organized an investors meet wherein it apprised the private industry stakeholders with the possible provisions of the master plan. “I can assure all investors that they will get complete support from us in developing this region as an international tourist destination,” Rawat further emphasized.
According to senior state government officials, the master plan is likely to get ready by January end. Among other things, it will facilitate tourism related development in a pocket of 110 km around the Tehri dam which is Asia’s tallest. “We want to put this place on the world map of tourism. While eco and adventure tourism components will be the inherent draws, the master plan will also aim at developing the region as a unique leisure destination,” state tourism secretary Shailesh Bagauli said. According to Bagauli, the state government has already put in an investment of Rs 200 crore in improving the basic infrastructure in the region in the recent past to kickstart the process of tourism development. Meanwhile, the master plan is being prepared in consultation with the noted financial firm IL&FS which has proposed tourism centric development of the region in a phased manner. In the first phase covering 40 square km, private investors will have the leeway to create products like budget hotels, luxury resorts, wellness center, camping and adventure facilities in as many as 10 locations around the Tehri Lake. The ultimate objective of the master plan would be to enhance the carrying capacity of the region to 50,000 tourists per day from the present base of 2000,in the next 10-15 years.
