4 areas along Pong Dam in Kangra to be developed as tourist spots

Dharamshala, August 30

Four areas (Nagrota Surian, Khatiyad, Nangal Chowk near Dadasiba and Matiyal) along the Pong Dam lake in Kangra district will be developed for tourism under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme of the Union Ministry of Tourism.

Sources said that 4 sq km area in Matiyal and 3.4 sq km area in Nangal Chowk near Dadasiba would be exempted from the Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary for allowing water sports activity in the lake. At present, almost entire area of Pong Dam lakes comes under the Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary and no commercial activity is allowed in the lake.

The sources said that though in principal approval for exempting the said areas from the Pong Dam wildlife sanctuaries has been given, final approval would be granted once 6.5 km additional area was added to wildlife sanctuary in lieu of the exempted area.

They said that the areas where tourism would be developed under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme had been selected as per the suggestions of a consultancy agency hired by the Union Ministry of Tourism. Around Rs 130 crore would be spent on developing these areas along the Pong Dam lake.

Hemraj Bairwa, Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, held a meeting regarding the execution of the project on Wednesday. He said that under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme, land had been selected to develop tourism activities in Khatiad. He added that district officials had inspected the land at Khatiad on August 14. Now, the process of transferring the land to the department would be taken forward.

To develop Khatiad from tourism point of view, infrastructure like cottages, pools, spas and restaurants would be constructed. Besides, water sports, adventure sports, local food, culture and art would also be promoted, he added.

Bairwa said that the opinion of local people and experts would be taken to develop the Pong Dam area from tourism point of view. While expanding tourism activities, the participation of local people should also be ensured. He added that the consultancy firm hired by the Union Ministry of Tourism to execute the project should also take suggestions from local people for which activities or projects could be worked on.

He said that the government had showed its commitment to develop Kangra district as the tourism capital of the state. The government and the district administration were making special efforts to promote tourism-related activities in the Pong Dam area.

The Deputy Commissioner said that the Pong Dam was a sensitive area in terms of environment, so construction work should be done keeping this fact in mind. Least tampering with the local nature in the structure to be built here should be ensured, he added.

Cottages, pools, spas to come up

• To develop Khatiad from tourism point of view, infrastructure like cottages, pools, spas and restaurants will be constructed there
• Water sports, adventure sports, local food, culture and art will also be promoted there
• The views of local people and experts to be taken to develop the Pong Dam area from tourism point of view
• While expanding tourism activities, the participation of local people need to be ensured
• Water sports to be allowed in the Pong Dam lake in Nangal Chowk and Matiyal
• In-principal approval granted for the exemption of 4 sq km area of the Pong Dam lake in Matiyal and 3.4 sq km in Nangal Chowk for water sports