DARSHAN KUNWAR
Amodern river rafting base station will come up at the spiritual town of Rishikesh under the scheme called the Special Assistance to States/UTs for Capital Investment (SASCI). The Central Government has released 66 per cent of the funds to the state for the scheme.
The Uttarakhand government will provide land for the scheme and it will also be implemented by the state Government. The Union Ministry of Tourism will monitor the project. The Centre has allocated Rs 3,295 crore to develop 40 tourist spots across states, including Rs 100 crore for the rafting base in Uttarakhand.
It will be equipped with multiple facilities to help prevent mishaps during rafting. Rafters will also be imparted professional training. Uttarakhand tourism secretary Sachin Kurvey said the project is expected to create approximately 1,500 jobs.
