Salman Khurshid reviews situation in Uttarakhand

DEHRADUN: External Affairs Minister SalmanKhurshid today visited the flood-hit areas of Uttarakhand and assured that redevelopment and rehabilitation efforts will not be hampered due to dearth of funds.

Khurshid assured Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna of all help from the Centre to pull the state out of difficult situation.

The Union minister praised the state government for its relief and reconstruction efforts in the disaster-hit areas, and said it seems the state would not take long to emerge from the effects of the tragedy.

After reviewing relief and reconstruction efforts under way in affected areas with the Chief Minister, Khurshid told reporters that he was confident that Uttarakhand will soon emerge as an ideal state.

He said the Centre will offer assistance to the state for the huge losses suffered by its tourism sector, the mainstay of the state's economy.

Efforts will be made to resume the Mansarovar Yatra in September and launching flight operations between Dehradun and Kathmandu.

At a meeting held with the Chief Minister and senior government officials to review the damage caused to infrastructure network by the calamity, Khurshid said largescale damage has been done to almost all parts of the state in the calamity but the "Centre will see to it that the redevelopment and rehabilitation efforts are not hampered by dearth of funds".