DEHRA DUN, July 28: The Uttar Pradesh Tourism (hills) and the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) have ambitious plans for further developing Auli in the Garhwal Himalayas as a world class ski resort for holding the National Winter Games in 2002.Auli, lying close to the famous Badrinath shrine in Garhwal's Chamoli district, has come a long way from being a grazing ground for cattle of hill villages to a leading Winter Games complex in the country. The GMVN has a massive set up in Auli today, with a capacity of lodge more than 300 people at any time given. A large number to restaurants, log huts, dormitories, viewing stations and state-of-the art chair lift and ski lift form the Games complex at Auli.Auli is about 15 km from Joshimath town. It is possible to drive from Joshimath to reach Auli. There is also the option of a six km trek which takes the traveller through dense Rhododendron forests. The third way to reach Auli from Joshimath is by the ropeway on which the trolley goes through thick forests.The GMVN was authorised in 1984 to develop Auli as a ski resort. Every year, since 1986, the GMVN, with the assistance of the U.P. Tourism, has been conducting an All India Auli Skiing Festival.Although there is no denying that Auli is coming up well as a ski resort, there are certain things in this context which cause concern to the local population and environmentalists.The large number of lodges and hotels which are coming up at Auli are an ominous sign as far as the fragile ecosystem of the place is concerned. Large-scale construction, besides harming the ecology, will also affect the skiing potential at Auli.Environment experts opine that residential facilities for skiers should be completely arranged at Joshimath instead of people staying at the ski-resort itself. As Joshimath is well-connected to Auli, skies and tourists would face no problems in commuting.
