The Minister of State for Culture & Tourism Shripad Yesso Naik has said that according to the State Government of Uttarakhand, the study undertaken by the PHD Chamber of Commerce of India (PHDCCI) reveals an estimated loss to the economy of about Rs.12,000 crore. Loss to Government tourism properties has been assessed at approximately Rs.116.00 Crore. Due to lack of access to some of the affected areas the loss to all private tourism assets could not be fully assessed so far.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today Shri Naik said, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has not granted any package for the promotion of tourism in the State. However, a special financial package of Rs.100.00 crore has been announced by the Ministry of Tourism for rebuilding/building destroyed/damaged government tourism assets, out of which an amount of Rs.72.55 crore has been sanctioned with release of Rs.10.58 crore. In addition, the Ministry has also sanctioned Central Financial Assistance of Rs.145.17 crore for various tourism infrastructure projects in Uttarakhand in 2013-14, the Minister added.