Masani barrage to be a tourist spot

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rewari, September 16

The area surrounding the Masani barrage in the district will be developed as a tourist destination with two lakes having the facilities of boating, food courts and adventure camp.

One of the lakes has been developed and the work on the other is in the final stage.

Sources say the authorities have also chalked out a plan to set up a zoo near the barrage located along the Delhi-Jaipur national highway.

The area is also developing as the favourite destination of migratory birds of various species. Bird watchers had spotted a considerable number of winged guests from foreign shores last season. Many of them were from rare species.

“Tourists will be able to enjoy a boat ride in the lakes next month as the Haryana Forest Development Limited has issued tender inviting applications for boating and food courts. Nature trail as long as 18 km is also being developed on both sides of the Masani barrage. As much as 6 km of nature trail has been readied,” Ashok Sharma, Deputy Commissioner (DC), told The Tribune here on Sunday.

He said the first lake had been developed near Nikhri village here. Work on the other one located next to the barrage is about to end. The Nikhri lake has been filled with water from the JLN Canal through the Lal Bahadur Shastri channel. The plan to establish a zoo here has also been finalised, he added.

Sharma said connectivity with the NH-8 would bring in visitors from Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan. A considerable number of tourists pass through the area on a daily basis while going to Delhi, Jaipur and Ajmer. They will be able to halt at the lake and enjoy nature for a short while after the development of the area.