Admn told to ensure safety of tourists

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 23

Uttarakhand Governor Dr KK Paul expressed concern over landslides and the resultant death of five pilgrims yesterday. 

He expressed concern at a meeting today with District Magistrate Deependra Chaudhary at Raj Bhawan in Nainital. He said the incident in which five persons were killed on the Haldwani-Almora Highway due to a landslide was unfortunate. 

He directed the District Magistrate to be prepared for dealing with such situations. The Governor said efforts should be made that traffic was not affected due to any accident. He suggested ways to the DM for the protection of tourists from landslides.

He said an immediate inspection should be done at places which were prone to landslides so that safety measures could be taken. The Governor said pilgrims and tourists coming to Nainital must be made to feel safe and confident. Mishaps occurring anywhere in the state should not be allowed to have an adverse effect on visitors. Security must be ensured for them.

The Governor directed the District Magistrate to take all necessary steps to ensure that tourists and pilgrims coming to Nainital were safe. Besides, the Governor also took information from the District Magistrate regarding work being done for rainwater conservation/harvesting. 

The Governor said the rainwater must be prevented from going into nullahs, rather it must reach the lakes. He said people must be made aware of the need to protect the Nainital lake through a mass awareness campaign.

The Governor said the report of environment experts on the endangered Nainital lake must be acquired and work accelerated to protect the lake. He said keeping in mind the growing number of tourists, more facilities must be provided.