India signed $ 126 million loan pact with ADB to increase tourism in Uttarakhand

New Delhi: India has signed a $ 126.42 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to promote sustainable tourism and rural development in the Tehri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand, one of the Himalayan state’s most climate-gulnerable and economically disadvantaged regions, the ministers said on Thursday. The project, focused on the Tehri Lake area, is expected to benefit more than 87,000 locals and 2.7 million annual visitors. It will upgrade infrastructure, improve sanitation and waste management, and strengthen disaster readiness in a region prone to landslides and floods. “Striking functions include a lifelong awards program to support tourism led by women, youth and micro, small and medium-sized businesses, universal access design, including for people with disability, and a disaster risk management initiative for women in pilot villages,” the ministry added. The project comes in the aftermath of flash floods and cloud bursts that Uttarakhand rushed last month. Uttarkashi’s Dharali -Village and Sukhi -Top were one of the worst hits, while Ruddraprayag, Chamoli, Tehri Garhwal, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Pauri Garhwal and Nainital Landslide, Road Bloods and overlap rivers. The loan agreement was signed by Juhi Mukherjee, joint secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and Kai Wei YEO, Officer-in-Charge, India Resident Mission, ADB. According to the ministry, the project will deploy climate resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions to reduce landslide and flood risks while promoting inclusive tourism. Women, youth and micro, small and medium-sized businesses will play a central role through the awards program and women-led ram prician management pilots. “The ADB loan supports the government of Uttarakhand’s policy of positioning the state as a diversified tourism destination, with Tehri Lake identified as a priority area for development,” Mukherjee said after signing the loan agreement. “The project displays a model for sustainable tourism anchored around a water power by adopting a multi -sector approach to generate work, diversify revenue and build climate resilience,” added ADB’s YEO. The ADB said the initiative would support sustainable tourism through planning, capacity building and climate-precious, inclusive facilities-to help post-pandemic recovery, rural income diversification and environmental protection. By coordinating rural tourism with soil and water zoning for water power, the project will also contribute to international best practices in rural tourism planning.