13 Aug 2009

The Uttarakhand government today informed the Planning Commission that all the works connected with the Kumbha Mela in Haridwar would be completed by October 31 this year.

During a meeting with Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia here, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank thanked the Prime Minister as well as Ahluwalia for sanctioning Rs 400 crore as Central assistance for the mela scheduled early next year.

Ahluwalia assured him of all possible help required for the development of the state and said the state government should strengthen infrastructural facilities for the religious fair.

He said the state should consider the experiences of earlier fairs and apply them.

News Source: PTI

Dehradun, 11 Aug 2009

Uttarakhand, with its over 172 varieties of medicinal and aromatic plant, fruits and vegetables, is an ideal place for herbal export zones or HEZs, an Assocham study said.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) in a paper recently submitted to the state government said the state has the potential to raise annual turnover of its herbal industry by Rs 4000 to Rs 16000 crore by the end of the next year.
The report also said HEZs have a capacity to provide employment to over 1.20 lakh skilled workforce and farmers.
However, it said there is a need to generate awareness on various aspects of medicinal plants among the farmers and people of Uttarakhand.

News Source: PTI