Water park project runs out of steam

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 13

The water park that involved beautification of the thermal plant lakes has finally proved to be nothing but a pipe dream of former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

It seems that almost everyone, even those who envisioned it, has ‘abandoned’ the project.

The Congress-led state government is yet to show any interest in the development of Bathinda — once considered to be the bastion of Badals.

The state government is not likely to adopt the project initiated and ‘abandoned’ by its predecessors.

Sukhbir Singh Badal was reportedly ‘disenchanted’ with the water park project after the victory margin for his wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal shrank to a mere 19, 395 votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

A local businessman, who was roped in by the SAD-BJP government to develop the lakes, had already invested lakhs of rupees by purchasing water scooters, para-sailing equipment and boats by 2014.

He had taken the lakes on a 10-year lease from the Bathinda Development Authority (BDA).

Though, the boating activity has sustained to be the main attraction, the proposed water park almost met the fate akin to that of the Harike amphibious bus project.

Apart from large-scale illumination, a train route around the lakes was also envisaged at the initial stage.

When asked about the number of tourists visiting the lakes, Pawan Garg, the managing director of Bathinda Lake View Park and mini zoo-cum-deer safari, said he was not making any profit even after an investment of more than Rs 2.5 crore.

“Around 50 tourists land every day, which is hardly enough to meet day-to-day expenses. We have invested Rs 35 lakh on a small ropeway experience project for the tourists. We are surviving only because of the food court. The footfall increases a bit during the summer and winter vacations,” he said.

The para-sailing equipment has been lying dysfunctional for the inability of the common people to pay huge charges.

“The boat used for para-sailing costs Rs 65 lakh. Moreover, we have to maintain staff of about 15 people for the upkeep of the equipment. Our 10-year contract with the BDA will expire in 2021. So, being a non-viable project, we are just offering boat rides to the people,” rued Pawan Garg.

Pipe dream of Sukhbir Badal

• The water park that involved beautification of the thermal plant lakes has finally proved to be nothing but a pipe dream of former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. 
• Sukhbir Singh Badal was reportedly ‘disenchanted’ with the water park project after the victory margin for his wife and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal shrank to a mere 19,395 votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
• A local businessman, who was roped in by the SAD-BJP government to develop the lakes, had already invested lakhs of rupees by purchasing water scooters, para-sailing equipment and boats by 2014.

Water scooter for politician’s son

A water scooter was allegedly purchased for Rs 10 lakh for the son of a top politician by the developers who were even offered the money for it by that politician. But the scooter was being put to use by the safety staff of the Bathinda Lake View Park for keeping a watch on the people taking boat rides. 

.