The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB), which simply talks of promoting adventurous sports with an aim to attract more tourists, lacks its own river rafting guidelines more than 12 years after formation of the State. UTDB still runs its river rafting show, using the guidelines framed in 1999 when the State was part of UP.
On a visit to the UTDB website http://uttarakhandtourism.gov.in/pages/view/21/24-adventure-sports,-trekking-and-camping-guidelines brings one the river rafting guidelines that has 27 points. The guidelines were issued in 1999 by the then UP Government. But now, UTDB claims that the draft prepared on the river rafting guidelines would be finalized soon. Asked when, the official said, “No, I cannot disclose the date now.”
A senior official of UTDB, pleading anonymity, accepts that the guidelines framed before 2000 are still effective. UTDB is anyhow managing its rafting show with the help of the guidelines. Despite the fact, joint director UTDB AK Singh claimed that several steps were taken to promote the adventurous sports in the state and guidelines on river rafting would be out soon.
“We have almost finalised the draft of guidelines on river rafting. We are in the process to incorporate some more points on safety. Hopefully, UTDB would have river rafting guidelines framed by it only,” he said, adding that framing guidelines on any important matter takes a little time.
For framing the guidelines, UTDB sought suggestions from various participants, including adventurous sports lovers, companies organise adventurous sports, volunteers, and non government organisations. All of them suggested them to pay special focus on ensuring safety of adventure sports lovers.
It has also been suggested that the companies, which could ensure safety measures for the adventure lovers, should be given priority for organising the event. The license could be given to the companies only after examining past record of the companies. The officials also have done brainstorming on various measures should be taken on part of the adventure sports lovers.
Around a week a back, the officials met at UTDB where proposed guidelines were discussed. Senior officials directed the board officials to incorporate some points in the guidelines and struck out few others. Sources said that rounds of meeting are more likely before finalization of the guidelines.
Singh accepted that the suggestions were sought from different sections involved in the rafting one way or the other. But he didn’t reveal any point incorporated in the proposed guidelines. He indicated that the new policy would be safety centric and it would also have measures for attracting more adventure sports lovers to the State in large number.