Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday said that permission should be sought from BBMB to carry out sports activities such as parasailing, paragliding, water scooter, kayaking, speed boat, cruise boat, water zorbing balls, house boat, shikara, floating jetty and floating restaurant in Pong Dam.
Presiding over the first meeting of Pong Area Development Board here, he said that possibilities should also be explored for setting up of an Institute of Excellence in water sport in collaboration with Indian Navy/ Coast Guard so that maximum tourists are attracted towards Pong Dam reservoir.
Thakur said the main objective of the Board was to ensure integrated and planned development of the Pong area and prepare policies and plans to promote tourism and culture in the Pong area and also help in generating employment opportunities.
The Chief Minister said that effective steps must be taken to undertake permissible activities in the area, adding that steps must also be taken to attract private funding for execution of tourism projects. He said that steps would be taken to strengthen the Pong Area Development Board and better road connectivity would be provided alongside the Pong Dam area so that tourists could be wooed to visit this destination.
Expressing his displeasure over the poor implementation of ADB funded Tranche-I project worth Rs. 8.33 crore, Thakur said an inquiry would be constituted in this regard and a report may be submitted within a month. The Chief Minister said that activities of Regional Water Sports Centre at Maharana Pratap Sagar, Pong Dam must be diversified to attract water sports lovers to this area. He said lakhs of migratory birds visit this sanctuary area every year thus more watch towers should be erected to facilitate the visitors to have a glimpse of these birds.
Thakur said Rancer Giri Island in the Pong Dam could also be developed as thousands of tourists visit this Island by boats every year. He said that floating jetties should also be provided at various strategic places so that people could enjoy the boating.
MLA and Member of the Board, Hoshiyar Singh said that the Pong Dam area has immense tourism potential. Chief Secretary Anil Khachi gave various points of view for development of Pong Dam area. Secretary Tourism Devesh Kumar, Director Tourism Yunus, amongst other senior officials attended the meeting.