Himachal govt invites tourists, aims to revive tourism amid floods and rain challenges

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 12 (ANI): In an attempt to revive tourism, which has been battered in the state due to floods and landslides in the recent past, Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh on Tuesday appealed to tourists to visit Himachal Pradesh and promote tourism.

Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Anirudh Singh said that due to the severe rainfall and floods, the state has incurred a loss of 10,000 crore rupees. “The heavy downpour has caused massive damage to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) worth over 20,000 crore,” he claimed.

“There has been a loss of 10000 crore rupees to the government property due to the rain and flood disaster in the state. 2200 crore losses as per set norms of the Union government. There has been a loss of 20,000 crore rupees on the roads of NHAI. So far, over 10500 houses and over 6500 houses have been completely destroyed. The state government is assessing the local and private losses. The landslides are continuing in the state, and the loss will increase in the days to come,” said Anirudh Singh, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister of Himachal Pradesh.

“All roads have been restored; for those who have lost their lands and those who have lost their houses, the government will provide the rent of their houses in rural and urban areas. We have given 1 lakh rupees each over and above the disaster fund under MGNREGA to those who have partial losses. 30 crore rupees have been given to us by the state government, and for 6551 houses, the central government will be funding the houses. We have also requested the Chief Minister to increase the funds, the Minister further added.

“There is a fear among the people and the wrong conception that most of the areas of Shimla City have been washed away in landslides and floods. It is not such that we are appealing to tourists to visit here and Shimla and the entire state is safe for travel now. In Kahdiyar village near Shimla, the International Paragliding Competition will be organised. I would appeal to tourists to visit Himachal Pradesh; the state is safe, and they can enjoy and move all across here. I have done a five-day tour from Chamba to Udaipur and Manali, and not even a single road is closed, said Anirudh Singh.

“The current situation of Shimla is good, barring a few roads being opened and restored; as far as the tourism industry is concerned, it was like a COVID situation. Now the entire focus of stakeholders is again on the revival of business in the tourism industry, which is coming back to its glory. We are a paragliding site working in tandem with the government to organise a tourism festival. We will be organising a flying festival in collaboration with the tourism department.

It will be completed between the 12th and 15th of October. We are expecting 125 national and international participants. Apart from the flying competition, there will be cultural extravaganzas, including the art culture, cuisine, and art competition for children. This is the right time to draw the attention of the tourists; they are also scared that this will send a message that the ecosystem of the tourism industry is back on wheels. said Arun Rawat, an adventure expert.