Uttrakhand government's dream project far from the reality

The Government engaged in the development of Uttarakhand State as a tourist state with the theme of '13 districts 13 new places'. However, this theme has been decided nearly two years ago. Not yet any work at the ground level has been started.

Dehradun: Uttarakhand state has limited resources due to its geographical conditions, in which the state government is engaged in enhancing its economic income. A large part of economic condition relies on tourism, every year thousands of tourists visit Uttarakhand. Which not only benefits the state government but also local residents. It is the reason behind the state government gives more attention to tourism.

Uttarakhand government's plan to devlop 13 new tourists destinations hasn't made any headway even two years after Trivendra Singh Rawat government being at the helms. As per plan one destination has to be developed in each of the 13 districts with an objective to bring up the state as an international tourist destination.

It's significant that a high-level committee of senior officials was formed in the leadership of chief secretary to realise the goal of creating 13 new tourist destinations with respective themes based on their geographical location and environmental situation. Committee has met on many occasions after it was commissioned but nothing concrete has been done so far despite officials making claims that lots have been done in this direction.

• Developing Chakra of Dehradun district as religious circuit heritage tourism.
• Munsyari of Pithoragarh and Mukteshwar of Nainital districts to be developed as laser tourism destination.
• Develop Kausani as a Tea-tourism destination in Bageshwar.
• Develop Kasar Devi Katramal in Almora meditation destination.
• Develop Lohaghat of Champawat as a new hill station
• Develop Parag Form of Udham Singh Nagar District as an Amusement Park.
• Develop Chopta high hill area of Rudraprayag district as eco-tourism.
• Developing Tehri Lake in Tehri international class watersports destination.
• Develop Khirsu in Pauri as hill station and Wildlife protected area.
• Developing Chinyalisod of Uttarkashi as multipurpose city.
• Developing Gairsain and Auli-Gaurson of Chamoli district as winter sports and knowledge towns.
• Developing Piran Kaliar in Haridwar as Islamic religious center.

Speaking to the media state finance secretary, Amit Negi said respective departments are working on the 13-districts 13-theme project as it's moving fast. Negi claimed that a proper system has been put in place to implement the plan.

Negi informed it is a big idea in which the tourism department is working closely with other departments and is preparing a master plan for this. For this, a separate budget has been created for different departments. Also Read:Candlelit vigil for victims of Sri Lanka bombings