TBM Staff - Mumbai
Uttarakhand, globally renowned for its spiritual and domestic tourism, is facing an unprecedented challenge as its floating population surges eight-fold annually. Disappointed by the omission of key issues in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday, the state government plans to approach the Centre via Niti Aayog for assistance in managing the massive tourist influx.
Finance Minister Premchand Agarwal had earlier requested Sitharaman to address the state’s pressing concerns, including the challenges posed by the floating population, but these issues were not mentioned in the budget. “We request Niti Aayog to provide us with central aid to cater to the millions of people who visit us every year,” Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, emphasising the significant strain on resources due to the influx of visitors for events like the Char Dham Yatra and Kanwar Yatra.
Sources indicate that the Uttarakhand government also sought compensation for damages from forest fires and high-voltage transmission line losses to be included in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms, which was also omitted from the budget. Social activist Anoop Nautiyal criticised the budget for neglecting severe environmental and climate challenges, pointing out that while there were assurances for regions like Uttarakhand, Himachal, and Sikkim, no significant allocations were made for these areas.
Uttarakhand Congress chief spokesperson Garima Dasoni expressed disappointment, noting that despite the state’s severe impact from forest fires and other disasters, the central government failed to make necessary provisions in the budget. The absence of allocations for a green bonus or support for the floating population, as well as the lack of establishment of glacier or landslide research centers in heavily affected districts like Rudraprayag and Tehri, highlights a significant oversight in addressing the state’s urgent needs.
