Rewind 2015: Turnaround in tourism; power output hits eco wall

Rawat shifts focus to summer capital at Gairsain after facing BJP flak on liquor contract CD. Read more about the turnaround in tourism, events and newsmakers of Uttarakhand in 2015.

Decisions driven by environment grounds triggered a debate on development in Uttarakhand this year.

Though it will take a few more years to put tourism on track, small-time businessmen were happy after the number of pilgrims swelled in comparison to 2014. (HT photo)

Three big hydro-power projects were scrapped due to environment concerns at a time Uttarakhand’s electricity production dipped to 5 million units -- an all-time low – and the demand kept rising up to 37 million units. And new power projects still hang fire.

The National Green Tribunal’s ban on camping to check pollution in the Ganga was hailed but the rafting industry was hit hard.

On the tourism front, the Char Dham pilgrimage that got a setback after the 2013 floods witnessed some improvement.

Read more about the turnaround in tourism, events and newsmakers of Uttarakhand in 2015.