Cabinet approves appt of consultant to develop Tehri lake, adjoining areas into ‘world class tourist hub’

Dehradun: Uttarakhand cabinet has given in-principle approval to the state tourism department’s proposal to appoint a consultant for developing Tehri lake and its adjoining areas into a world-class tourist destination. Officials said the process of appointing consultants will begin soon.Spread over 42sqkm, the Tehri dam reservoir, built on Bhagirathi river, already hosts water sports such as kayaking, canoeing and water skiing. State govt has also organised adventure sports activities including paragliding in recent years. A 77-km ring road and cycling path have also been proposed to boost infrastructure around the lake, which has become a major attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists.In another key decision, the cabinet approved a proposal to allow homestays to be operated in clusters. The initiative aims to support residents in hill areas who are unable to run homestays individually, giving them the option to form a group and operate a homestay together. Under the Uttarakhand Homestay Scheme, registered operators can avail a subsidy of up to Rs 15 lakh. At present, there are 6,100 homestays in the state, with more than 1,000 already registered.Tourism secretary Dhiraaj Singh Garbyal said both initiatives are important projects. “After the Cabinet’s consent, we will move ahead in appointing a consultant for Tehri as well as encouraging more youth to come up with homestays. Both these initiatives will help the rural economy and provide income opportunities, especially for youngsters,” he said.