Tribune News Service
Shimla, December 28
Permission should be sought from the 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 at the Pong Dam, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the first meeting of the Pong Area Development Board here today.
He said possibilities should also be explored to set up an institute of excellence in water sport in collaboration with the Navy/Coast Guard so that the maximum tourists were attracted towards the Pong Dam reservoir.
He said the main objective of the board was to ensure the planned development of the area and help generating jobs. The Pong Dam would also be developed under the “Nai Raahein, Nai Manjilen” and Rs 7.96 crore was being spent to develop it as a major tourist attraction.
Thakur said better roads would be provided to connect the Pong Dam area.
Activities of the Regional Water Sports Centre at Maharana Pratap Sagar, Pong Dam, must be diversified to attract water sport lovers. He said lakhs of migratory birds visited the lake every year. More watch towers should be erected to facilitate the visitors.