Dehradun: The government has taken a major step toward developing Tehri Lake into an international tourism hub. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has directed the preparation of a comprehensive master plan and zonal plan for the Tehri Lake area, covering approximately 8,000 hectares of both government and private land.
The Chief Secretary stated that the Tehri Lake region should be developed under the concept of “One State, One Global Destination.” To prevent haphazard development, a long-term, well-planned strategy must be crafted alongside defining functional zones based on specific requirements.
Phased Strategy for Tourism Activities
The Chief Secretary instructed the development of major attraction hubs for various tourism activities in the lake area through a phased plan. The goal is to encourage tourists to stay in the Tehri area for two days or longer, rather than visiting for just a single day.
Emphasis was placed on integrating water sports with adventure tourism, trekking, nature, culture, and village-based tourism.
Activities During Low Water Levels in Summer
To ensure tourism activities continue during April, May, and June when lake water levels recede, directives were given to draft a dedicated action plan. An annual calendar of activities will be developed based on seasons and water levels.
Plans include developing new trekking routes and trails in the lake region and connecting nearby villages to tourism initiatives. Through village and cultural tours, tourists will experience local culture, traditions, cuisine, and rural life, creating employment and self-employment opportunities for locals.
Proposal to be Presented Before the Prime Minister
The Chief Secretary directed the preparation of a detailed presentation on the comprehensive action plan and proposed activities to establish Tehri Lake as an international tourism destination, which is scheduled to be presented to the Prime Minister.
Technical collaboration options with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi and Bhopal, will also be explored for crafting the master plan. Officials from THDC will be invited to the next meeting to ensure coordinated discussions on developing the lake region.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, APCCF Vivek Pandey, Surendra Mehra, CCF Prasanna Kumar Patro, Additional Secretaries Vineet Kumar, Himanshu Khurana, Abhishek Rohilla, and Tehri District Magistrate Nitika Khandelwal.
