Uttarakhand: Preparations underway to transform Tehri Lake into a global destination; master plan to be developed for 8,000 hectares
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The government has taken a significant step towards developing Tehri Lake into an international tourism hub. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has directed officials to prepare a comprehensive master plan and zonal plan for the Tehri Lake region. An area of approximately 8,000 hectares—comprising both government and private land—will be included in this initiative.
The Chief Secretary emphasized developing the Tehri Lake region under the “One State, One Global Destination” concept. To prevent haphazard development, he called for a long-term, well-planned strategy for the entire area, including the demarcation of specific zones based on requirements.
Phased Plan for Tourism Activities
The Chief Secretary directed officials to develop key attractions for various tourism activities within the lake region and to formulate a phased plan. The objective is to encourage tourists to stay in the Tehri region for two days or longer, rather than just a single day.
To achieve this, emphasis was placed on the integrated development of water sports, adventure tourism, trekking, and nature, cultural, and village-based tourism.
Activities to Continue During Low Water Levels in Summer
Instructions were issued to prepare a special action plan ensuring that tourism activities continue even during the months of April, May, and June, when the lake’s water level drops. A year-round activity calendar will be prepared, taking seasonal variations and water levels into account.
Plans are also in place to develop new trekking routes and trails in the lake region and to link surrounding villages with tourism. Emphasis was placed on connecting tourists with local culture, traditions, cuisine, and rural life through village and cultural tours, while simultaneously boosting employment and self-employment opportunities for local residents.
Proposal to be Presented to the Prime Minister
The Chief Secretary directed officials to prepare a detailed presentation outlining the comprehensive action plan and proposed activities for transforming Tehri Lake into an international tourism destination. This proposal is slated to be presented to the Prime Minister. The possibility of seeking technical assistance from the School of Planning and Architecture (New Delhi and Bhopal) for the preparation of the master plan will also be considered. Instructions have been issued to invite THDC officials to the next meeting to facilitate a coordinated discussion on issues related to the development of the lake area.
Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, APCCF Vivek Pandey and Surendra Mehra, CCF Prasanna Kumar Patro, Additional Secretaries Vineet Kumar, Himanshu Khurana, and Abhishek Rohilla, along with Tehri District Magistrate Nitika Khandelwal, were present at the meeting.
