The Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Culture (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Mahesh Sharma held a meeting with Tourism Minister of Uttarakhand, Dinesh Dhanai in New Delhi. The meeting was a follow up of the earlier meetings to seek central assistance for development of tourism in the State of Uttarakhand.
Dhanai said that the state government is keen to finish the ongoing tourism related infrastructure projects at the earliest to promote tourism in the state. He requested Sharma to allow a diversion of funds released earlier for tourism projects which could not be undertaken to those incomplete projects started under the scheme of PIDDC but waiting for release of outstanding funds.
Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has funds to the tune of Rs, 14.39 crores, which can be useful for those projects which are 60-70 per cent completed, he added. Dhanai also requested that the project of constructing a ropeway between Tehri lake and New Tehri to be included in the first phase of Swadesh Darshan Scheme itself.
Sharma assured that the demands of the state government will be examined and all possible assistance will be extended to help the state of Uttarakhand for development of tourism.
Senior officials of the Ministry of Tourism and State Government were also present at the meeting.
