HAMIRPUR (HP):Time has come when each government has realized the importance of
water sports of larger economic policy. As of now, lakes are largely restricted to sight
seeing and pleasure trips while it demands from us more than of that on the other hand the
low sensibility of arm-chair administration produces stagnation.
Perhaps it is against the
background of highly comprehensive and highly fragmented character of water sports that the
government of Himachal Pradesh attempted to go ahead with a number of innovative plans.
Recenlty, the trials for adventure water sports activities in the Gobind Sagar lake near
Androli village in district Una of Himachal pradesh began on Thursday. Motorboats, kayaks,
wate scooters and e-hydrofoil surf boards were put in service in the lake and tested by eperts
from the Water Sports Centre at the Pong Dam. The six-day trials will end on September 21
and more water sports equipments will be tested and displayed.
Kutlehar MLA is also minister for rural development Virender Kanwar, who was
present to witness the water sports trials, said water sports and paragliding would be launched
soon and basic infrastructure to sustain week-end tourism be created initially.
Kanwar said Kutlehar did not have any big industries and the hills provided fewer
opportunities for agriculture, adding that tourism would boost economy of the locals
The initiative is being promoted by the Kutlehar Tourism Development Society
which was constituted under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner, Una. The Bhakra
Beas Management Board has issued the no-objection certificate and also notified water sports
routes in the reservoir. Besides, the State Tourism and Civil Aviation Department had
permitted and notified water and paragliding sports activities in the region.
In the monthe of August last, instructors from the Directorate of Mountaineering and
Allied Sports, Manali, had conducted paragliding sorties from the Solasingi mountain range
of Kutlehar and notified two launch sites at Piplu and Gharvasada villages, besides two
landing spots in the valley.
The government of Himachal Pradesh is taking into account both forward and
backward linkages and also as a mark of Government-led-Private Sector-driven and
Community Welfare-oriented policy, concrete attempt has been made to step up the
momentum of water sports which in turn popularize tourism in the state. In 2016, the state
government has shown its willingness to popularize water sports activities. The government
had appointed a nodal officer to oversee the development in the matter directly.
To attract tourists across the globe the department is organizing promotional
festivals such as State Level Shirui Lily Festival, Manipur Sangai Festival, Women Polo
Tournament and Barak Spring Festival. On an average, the Sangai Festival is attended by
40, 000 people per day including foreigners from 20 countries.
The State Government has initiated a proposal for regular bus service from
Imphal to Mandalay. Rail and Air link between Manipur and Myanmar is also under active
consideration. In short, Manipur is going to be opened up for larger global connectivity with
a view to sensitizing the land locked State in terms of greater competitiveness, innovation and
investment. Isolation is a thing of the past. When the whole world has become a global
village, isolation may create the painful feeling of being left out. What we should do is to
enrich and strengthen the internal competitive potential.
For the delicate task of maintenance we need service-oriented and
performance-driven manpower who looks after the tourist homes with or without the arrival
of tourists. The service of private player may now be better option in view of three distinctive
articles of courtesy care, and convenience.
Only strengthening the hard wares of tourism is not enough. The role of soft
ware is equally important. As unique feature of service sector we do not go out for selling; on
the contrary the buyers, come, see, buy and enjoy.