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The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $126.4 million loan agreement to promote sustainable and climate-resilient tourism in the Tehri Lake region of Uttarakhand. The pact, signed by Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Kai Wei Yeo, Officer-in-Charge of ADB’s India Resident Mission, supports the Sustainable, Inclusive, and Climate-Resilient Tourism Development at Tehri Lake Area Project.
The initiative seeks to transform Tehri Lake into a diversified, all-weather tourism destination, aligning with Uttarakhand’s vision for rural development and job creation. It targets the climate-vulnerable Tehri Garhwal District, aiming to benefit more than 87,000 local residents and 2.7 million annual visitors by improving tourism planning, infrastructure, sanitation, waste management, and disaster preparedness.
Key measures under the project include institutional strengthening, climate-resilient and nature-based infrastructure to mitigate landslide and flood risks, and inclusive tourism services driven by women, youth, and private enterprises. It also introduces a livelihood matching grant program to support micro, small and medium-sized businesses, universal access design for persons with disabilities, and a women-led disaster risk management initiative in pilot villages.
Both parties said the project will act as a model for sustainable tourism around hydropower lakes, combining economic diversification, climate resilience, and inclusive development.
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