By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 21 Jul: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today announced a relief package for the tourism sector, which is hit badly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dhami was touring disaster affected villages of district Uttarkashi. He addressed a press conference in Uttarkashi during this tour. He said that instructions had been given to all the district magistrates for relief and rescue operations during natural disasters in the state. Dhami said thatm due to Covid-19, people working in various tourist activities and the Char Dham Yatra had been affected the most. At present, due to the ban on Char Dham Yatra and other tourist activities, businesses of the hotels, transporters, porters and other related persons had come to a standstill. Dhami said that to provide some relief, the state government had approved a relief amount of around Rs 200 in the form of a package for their benefit. He stated that the state government would directly transfer money to the bank account of the persons working or doing business in such areas. Apart from this, exemption would also be given on licence fee, etc., for various business activities. This would benefit about 1.64 lakh beneficiaries. Dhami claimed that this package would help the people working in the tourism sector and the economy of the state would also get a boost.
The Chief Minister added that, under this relief and assistance, persons engaged in various tourism related activities registered with the tourism department and other related departments would be provided financial assistance at the rate of Rs 2000 per month for six months, under which 50,000 beneficiaries would be benefited. At the same time, tour operators and adventure tour operators operating under the Uttarakhand Tourism Travel Trade Rules would be provided financial assistance at the rate of Rs 10,000 per month and this would benefit 655 beneficiaries. A total of 630 river guides would also be provided financial assistance at the rate of Rs, 10,000.
A total of 93 registered boat operators at Tehri Lake would also be provided financial assistance at the rate of Rs 10,000. Exemption from registration and licence renewal fee would also be provided by the tourism department for 600 beneficiaries. A total of 301 registered rafting and aero sports service providers would be exempted from the licence renewal fee for the year 2021-21. Under the Transport Sector, a total of 6 months financial assistance would be provided to the drivers, operators and cleaners of transport vehicles at the rate of Rs 2000 per month. A total of 1,03,235 beneficiaries would get the package. In addition, a total of 549 boat operators registered in Naini, Naukuchiatal, Bhimtal, Sattal and Sadiyatal in Nainital district would also be provided financial assistance at the rate of R 10,000 per month by the Urban Affairs Department and, in addition, 671 beneficiaries would be given exemption in boat renewal fee at Naini Lake in Nainital district in the financial year 2021-22. An incentive amount of Rs 2000 per month for cultural artists would be given for 5 months. This would benefit 6500 beneficiaries. Rebate would be granted on trekking and peak fees by the Forest Department for a total of 329 beneficiaries as fee exemption for the financial year 2021-22 for boat renewal under Naukuchiatal, Bhimtal, Sattal and Sadiyatal in Nainital district. Interest reimbursement assistance would be provided for 6 months on loans under the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali and Deendayal Upadhyaya Homestay Scheme by the State Finance Department.
