By Our Staff Reporter
Nainital, 5 Jun: Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) held a meeting with officials of Hotel Association and Boat Association, Nainital, at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday. The Governor discussed in detail the challenges and problems related to facilities and infrastructure development for tourists in Nainital and received their suggestions.
The Governor said that the natural beauty and lake of Nainital attract tourists from the country and abroad. He said that it is necessary to develop infrastructure facilities according to the times. Efforts are also being made by the government in this direction. He suggested modernisation of and value addition to the tourism sector.
In order to deal with the parking problem, he said efforts are being made to provide small parking lots, multi-storeyed parking lots and ropeways, etc., to solve this problem.
Lt Gen Singh said that Nainital lake is the main centre of attraction for the tourists coming here and it needs to be maintained. Attention should be paid to the facilities of the tourists coming from outside. He said that a survey of Nainital lake would be conducted soon by the National Hydrographer Office, Dehradun.
The officials present at the meeting apprised the Governor about the challenges related to the tourism business in Nainital. The officials apprised the Governor about the suggestions and problems such as removal of silt from Nainital lake, increasing the parking capacity of the city, strengthening the traffic system, developing defence land in Nainital as a parking lot, finding alternative solutions for drinking water system, approval for reconstruction work of old hotels, running special trains for Manaskhand, running big buses to Nainital, expansion of Pantnagar Airport.
The Boat Association suggested building a shelter in the boat stand built in Naini Lake so that tourists can stand during the rainy season. Along with this, the life jackets provided by the municipality have not been received for the last three years. They spoke about the need for beautification of the lake, repair of the road.
The Governor assured appropriate action. The suggestions would be implemented by talking to the concerned departments, local administration, Chief Secretary and Chief Minister. Action on some suggestions was in progress.
Hotel Association President Digvijay Singh Bisht, Boat Association President Ram Singh Bisht and other officials were present at this meeting.
