Dehradun. Tourism and Irrigation Minister Satpal Maharaj held a review meeting today with the officials of the tourism department and irrigation department for rehabilitation and rehabilitation of the Saung Dam Drinking Water Project from the tourism point of view in the tourism department Gadhikant

Tourism and Irrigation Minister Satpal Maharaj was shown the model under the Song Dam Project by RK Tiwari, General Manager of the Irrigation Department. In which a 3.5-km long lake is proposed to be built in the Soudhana strip of Tehri district.

Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj instructed the officials that there is a source of sulfur water in the Saundhana strip which works as Ayurvedic. The tourism minister said that with the construction of the lake, there should be a provision of wellness centers, homestays, yoga, etc. to entice tourists. Due to which the local youth will get employment opportunities. He said that local products will also be produced which will also give a boost to hill dishes.

During the review meeting, Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said that the tourist who will come to the last village of the state to stay the night will be given certificates. He instructed the officials to get the winter program organized which would attract tourists to these villages.

RK Tiwari, general manager of the irrigation department, said that if the state land becomes available for rehabilitation and restoration of the Song Dam drinking water project, then the expenditure on rehabilitation is estimated to be about Rs 134 crore.

Under this project, all affected account holders will be allotted half an acre of developed land and 200 square meters of developed residential plot in lieu of the land acquired. If a full affected does not want displacement in the rehabilitation site then compensation will be payable to the fully affected land.

Every affected family of an artisan, small businessman or self-employed person, or an affected family whose non-agricultural land or commercial, industrial or association structure is in the affected area owned and who have been involuntarily displaced from the affected area on account of the land One-time financial assistance will be given, which will be specified subject to a minimum limit of Rs 25 thousand. Such affected families who have been held on Government land on or before three years before the date of notification, compensation/award will be payable as per the decision of the government. As far as possible, the villagers of the project area will be given priority in the business activities to be conducted after the construction of the project.

Additional Director of Tourism Department Poonam Chand, DTDO Atul Bhandari, Song Dam Drinking Water Project, Irrigation Department Deputy General Manager KRK Gupta, VK Maurya, Assistant Engineer Deepak Joshi, Sudhir Sammy, Sudhanshu, and Prashant Srivastava were present.