People in Rourkela are enjoying a unique experience of water sports of various forms and hundreds of enthusiasts are queuing up for availing the facility, thanks to the Department of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (DoFARD).
With Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approving the proposal, the DoFARD moved to promote the proposal with cage farming of fish as well as water sports. The Pitamahal Reservoir was utilized for the purpose through Kalinga Divers Foundation Trust (KDFT) led by ace scuba diver Sabir Bux.
FARD Secretary Bishnupada Sethi, known for his overdrive for promoting unique experiences in the State to promote fisheries and tourism, supported the move and the State Government gave its nod for the project, said a senior official in the DoFARD.
Bux, an acknowledged name in water sports in the country, has taken the initiative and successfully launched the project in the Pitamahal Reservoir on January 26.
When the entire nation was celebrating 68th Republic Day, KDFT took initiative and provided a unique experience to people of Odisha with adventure water sports experience by giving them boat ride, peddle ride, water scooter ride and kayaking. The people of Rourkela enjoyed the rides and appreciated the work.
The area is widely used for group and family picnic. And, the water adventure services in this area added joy to their celebrations, said Bux.
The KDFT would be seeing more and more crowd to this place in the coming days, for which it needs support of the State Government in order to manage services and develop the area.
The KDFT will provide lifesaving skills and water sports training to the young boys and girls. Once they are certified, they will be engaged in promoting water sports and generate employment.
Bux sees immense talent in the local youths and KDFT would like to encourage them to take up their passion into Olympics. The KDFT would be training the locals in Olympic water sports discipline and engage them to pursue their passion and dream.