Gazette notification will mar tourism in Uttarakhand
10 May 2013 7:01 AM IST
The 20 April Gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests declared both sides of Bhagirathi river from Gaumukh (fountainhead of Ganga river) to Uttarkashi (100 Km stretch) as an eco-sensitive zone.
After this declaration, the future of many small and big projects will be uncertain. Consequently, the Uttarakhand Government has to now seek permission from concerned ministry’s monitoring committee to initiate any developmental project in the future. From Gaumukh to Uttarkashi, the natural charm of this green belt attracts tourists from India and abroad. Moreover, the famous Gangotri Dham is the hub of various religious activities. It is the first choice for many Hindu pilgrims.
Tourism industry is a promising sector for local people as local and foreign tourists flock to cool and calm climates of hills during scorching summer. The worldwide economic meltdown of 2008 ruined the tourism industry, and Uttarakhand was no exception. But the last two years, the state witnessed significant in the tourists inflow.
The state government felt that the notification issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forest will mar the tourism industry in the concerned region. Tourists from metro-cities are not used to trek in off-beaten path. Some old and weak tourists can’t travel long on foot. With the dearth of basic amenities, the tourists will look for other options.
Many water-sports projects and ropeways were in the pipeline to attract tourists of all tastes. Now, they will not be materialized following the notification. Recently started Nirmal Gangotri Mega Pryatan Sarkit will suffer a setback. The danger looms large over the closure of more than dozen projects and thus causing a loss of Rs 2,000 crores to the state exchequer.
DURATION OF KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA CURTAILED
The duration of this year’s Kailash Mansarovar yatra has been reduced to 25 days from the earlier 29 and the annual pilgrimage will commence from 9 June.
The duration of the famous pilgrimage, a religious voyage to the abode of Lord Shiva in Tibet, has been curtailed to make the trip more comfortable for the pilgrims, official sources said today.
Numbers of pilgrim groups have increased from 16 to 18.
After this declaration, the future of many small and big projects will be uncertain. Consequently, the Uttarakhand Government has to now seek permission from concerned ministry’s monitoring committee to initiate any developmental project in the future. From Gaumukh to Uttarkashi, the natural charm of this green belt attracts tourists from India and abroad. Moreover, the famous Gangotri Dham is the hub of various religious activities. It is the first choice for many Hindu pilgrims.
Tourism industry is a promising sector for local people as local and foreign tourists flock to cool and calm climates of hills during scorching summer. The worldwide economic meltdown of 2008 ruined the tourism industry, and Uttarakhand was no exception. But the last two years, the state witnessed significant in the tourists inflow.
The state government felt that the notification issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forest will mar the tourism industry in the concerned region. Tourists from metro-cities are not used to trek in off-beaten path. Some old and weak tourists can’t travel long on foot. With the dearth of basic amenities, the tourists will look for other options.
Many water-sports projects and ropeways were in the pipeline to attract tourists of all tastes. Now, they will not be materialized following the notification. Recently started Nirmal Gangotri Mega Pryatan Sarkit will suffer a setback. The danger looms large over the closure of more than dozen projects and thus causing a loss of Rs 2,000 crores to the state exchequer.
DURATION OF KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA CURTAILED
The duration of this year’s Kailash Mansarovar yatra has been reduced to 25 days from the earlier 29 and the annual pilgrimage will commence from 9 June.
The duration of the famous pilgrimage, a religious voyage to the abode of Lord Shiva in Tibet, has been curtailed to make the trip more comfortable for the pilgrims, official sources said today.
Numbers of pilgrim groups have increased from 16 to 18.
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