CM launches water sports at Tattapani

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 23

The state government is planning to open a floating restaurant at Tattapani in Mandi district to make it a favourite tourist destination, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while virtually inaugurating water sports activities at Tattapani from here today.

He said that the government was committed to developing lesser known tourist places under the Nai Raahein Nai Manzilein programme. This would not only lessen the burden on already crowded tourist places but would also provide an opportunity to tourists to explore virgin destinations, he added. The initiative would also go a long way in providing employment and self-employment opportunities to the local youth.

Thakur said that the government had notified the HP Miscellaneous Adventure Activities ‘Amendment’ Rules to make sports activities safe for sports lovers. The government would start new water sports activities such as speed boat, water skiing, jet skiing, ski boarding, water scooter, cruise etc. in various water bodies, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the government would also explore the possibility of water transport in the Kol Dam area. He added that events such as Satluj Aarti and the preparation of 1,995 kg of ‘khichari’ in one utensil, which also got entry into the Guinness Book of World Records, had promoted Tattapani from tourism point of view.

Thakur said that the Karsog area had several popular destinations such as the Mahunag Temple and the Kamaksha Temple, which would be developed for religious tourism.

The Chief Minister also launched the e-Service portal of the Tourism Department which would ensure time-bound services related to various project approvals to entrepreneurs in the hospitality sector. He said that this would facilitate registration, renewal, project approval and the grant of essentiality certificates to the seekers.

Thakur also started an online facility for the bookings in Himachal Bhawans in New Delhi and Chandigarh and the Himachal Sadan in Delhi.

Online booking of Himachal Bhawans starts

• The government to start new water sports activities such as speed boat, water skiing, jet skiing, ski boarding, water scooter, cruise etc. in various water bodies
• The government to explore the possibility of water transport in the Kol Dam area
• The Chief Minister launched the e-Service portal of the Tourism Department which would ensure time-bound services related to various project approvals to entrepreneurs in the hospitality sector
• He also launched an online facility for the bookings in Himachal Bhawans in New Delhi and Chandigarh and the Himachal Sadan in Delhi