Events mark foundation day of Uttarkashi

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, February 24

Several events were organised to celebrate the 58th foundation day of Uttarkashi district here today.

Uttarkashi District Magistrate Ashish Shrivastava participated in the talks held at the district administration auditorium on the theme of Uttarkashi and its development. He said it was on February 24, 1960, that Uttarkashi district was carved out of Tehri Garhwal.

The mythological, cultural and religious significance of the district makes it unique. It has its own identity that needs to be preserved at all costs. He said the district has immense possibility of religious tourism in as it houses two important shrines of Gangotri and Yamunotri. It was of utmost importance to develop facilities considering the large inflow of pilgrims and adventure tourists.

Shrivastava said it was the responsibility of every resident to provide clean eating and sleeping places to tourists and pilgrims in the district. Hoardings welcoming tourists should be installed at each entry point of the district. He directed officials from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Public Works Department (PWD) to work on it without delay. He also directed officials to install signage providing information about religious sites.

He said it was important to maintain major ghats in Gangotri and Uttarkashi so that pilgrims could take a dip comfortably. He directed officials to complete works on ghats before the start of the Char Dham yatra and maintain free flow of the Ganga.

He added tourism was the mainstay of the district and efforts should be made to link local people with tourism so that employment is generated at the local level.