Concrete Valleys

Kullu and Manali towns are crowded and unplanned, with a confusion of buildings tumbling into rivers. The hotels in Manali belong mostly to the rich of Delhi and give employment to the locals only at the lowest level. The real income goes elsewhere. I would suggest that the finance minister should push his banks to give loans up to Rs 5 lakh at less than 5 per cent interest to local landlords who can expand and upgrade their bedrooms and bathrooms, and thus get worthwhile income on the bed-and-breakfast model.