Himachal: ADB funded Rs 3.5 cr tourism project lying defunct in Kangra

Friday, February 3, 2023

At a time when the importance of tourism sector has been highlighted in the recently announced Union Budget 2023, it has come to light that Rs 3.5 crore Asian Development Bank (ADB) tourism project is lying defunct in kangra district.

A news has been published by Tribune News Service which states that huts were built at a cost of about Rs 3.5 crore during the stint of the previous Congress government from 2012 to 2017 using funds provided by the ADB.

The huts, located on the banks of a local rivulet on the Nagrota Surain- Nandpur road, about 3 km from Nagrota Surian, were constructed by the Tourism Department and tents and cottages put up on the banks of the Pong Dam lake near Dhameta area of the district.

The News Service states that the unit that came up at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore includes three independent rooms, dining hall, platforms and toilets, besides the area for pitching up tents for temporary accommodation. However, these have not been occupied even for one day till date.

The Tourism Department had handed over the building to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) for running it commercially. The HPTDC termed the project unviable and turned it down. The property was later handed over to the Forest Department.

The Tribune News Service reports that most of the windows of the huts have decayed, air conditioners purchased for huts are lying in packing for the last five years, the furniture has worn out and temporary tents were lying in closed packing.

A budget of about Rs 7 crore was proposed to redevelop the huts and other infrastructure by the Forest Department. However, nothing has been done in this regard till date.

Tribe News Service quoted the Director, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Amit Kashyap, as saying that the huts and cottages developed near Pong Dam were being run by the HPTDC.

About the huts developed in Nagrota Surian, the Director said that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has convened a meeting for development of tourism in Pong Dam lake area. All the projects in the area would be reviewed in the meeting.

New chairman of the Tourism Development Board, RS Bali, said that the government would try to revive the old tourism projects.

« Back to Page

• Himachal paralyzed: Snowstorm seals 504 roads, travel disrupted

• Himachal govt. approves building of eight heliports to promote tourism

• Kangra to be developed as tourism capital of Himachal, says CM Sukhu

• In Himachal, AAP ended it political tourism, says Nadda

• INTACH will take action if heritage assets in Himachal are defaced