Green cover to beautify George Everest House in Mussoorie

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, July 29

Regional tourism officer Yogendar Gangwar today said the Tourism Department had started the plantation drive under the Harela campaign launched by Chief Minister Harish Rawat to beautify the historic George Everest House area. He added several silver oak, weeping willow, kaner, guava and other fruit bearing species had been selected for the Harela project at Everest House.

Gangwar said the department was making efforts to develop the Park estate and George Everest House into an important tourist hub. The area under tourism had already been given on lease to a firm that would begin aero-sport and hot ballooning activities here soon.

Sandeep Sahni, a member of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, said the Chief Minister’s efforts of greening the state were bearing fruits as the Harela drive was witnessing big participation. He said the Chief Minister was also concerned about the state of George Everest House that is in a dilapidated condition. With the Chief Minster showing interest in George Everest House, the area was bound to be developed soon, he added.

Sahni hailed the Chief Minister’s decision to waive luxury and entertainment tax from hotels which were running their businesses on the Char Dham routes. He said the Uttarakhand Hotel Association welcomed the decision as all hotels in Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Tehri and Pauri districts would benefit from it.

Dehradun CDO Alok Pandey said there was unprecedented enthusiasm among people for the Harela drive. Various schools and organisations in Dehradun district had planted 80,000 saplings that was an encouraging sign for environment conservation.