After HC ban, U’khand makes rafting safer

Dehradun, August 8

The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Wednesday approved a revised policy on adventure sports, imposing a total ban on the use of intoxicants by enthusiasts while rafting, kayaking or canoeing in the state.

The revised policy, which also fixes a minimum qualification for raft operators, got the Cabinet’s nod at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.

The amended rules on river rafting, kayaking and canoeing are more practical, which will make adventure sports safer, Finance Minister Prakash Pant said. 

Stricter penal provisions had been made in the revised policy for violators, he said.

Taking a serious view of frequent accidents during rafting, the Uttarakhand High Court had imposed a ban on the activity at the peak of the season in June until a revised policy on adventure sports was brought into force.

The High Court had attributed the rise in accidents during river rafting primarily to the absence of proper regulations and underlined the need for a revised policy on adventure sports.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to revised rules for paragliding and aero sports.

In another decision, the Cabinet cleared amendments to the Religious Freedom Act, laying down a well-defined procedure for cancellation of registration of institutions that indulge in fraudulent activities in the name of religion. — PTI

Adventure sports policy

• Alarmed at accidents, HC had in June banned rafting, underlining  the need for a new policy on adventure sports
• The revised policy bans use of intoxicants by enthusiasts and fixes a minimum qualification for raft operators 
• Revised rules on paragliding and aero sports also cleared