Ice skating in Shimla likely to start by November-end

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 17

A sudden drop in temperatures and the early arrival of the winter have created conducive conditions for ice skating in Shimla. Preparations are underway to start the ice skating session at the rink here from November-end.

“Due to the pandemic, no activities such as fairs and exhibitions were organised in the ice skating rink this year and the ground was used only for selling crackers during Diwali. A lot of grass has grown in the rink and the maintenance work has started,” said Bhuvnesh Banga, Secretary, Shimla Ice Skating Club.

He said that they would seek prior permission from the Deputy Commissioner before commencing the session as per the Covid guidelines of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

The shortening of the ice skating season at Asia’s biggest natural rink, the size of which is equal to five tennis courts, is posing a threat to the most exciting winter sport. About two decades ago, the normal season used to start in the last week of November and last up to early March. At least 50 to 100 sessions were held during an average dependable year.

The minimum of six sessions were held in 2017-18 while the maximum number of 118 sessions were held in 1997-98. Global warming, felling of huge deodar trees and unplanned constructions in the vicinity of the rink coupled with pollution caused by emissions from vehicles at the bus stand adjacent to the rink were mainly responsible for the shortening of the season.

However, ice skating is set to get a new lease of life as the Rs 18-crore project sent by the Tourism Department to convert the natural rink into an international standard semi-artificial one has been sanctioned and Rs 8 crore had already been received.

“The project envisages the laying of underground pipes for chilling and concretising of the sprawling ice skating rink with the total area equivalent to five tennis courts (58 m X 30 m),” Banga added.

Although the tender process was initiated, it could not be completed due to the pandemic. The process would be initiated again for the creation of an internal infrastructure and the installation of a refrigeration plant.

Clear sky with low temperatures during winter months with minimum temperatures staying below 4°C to 5°C is ideal and a pre-requisite for a good ice skating season, and a semi-artificial rink is the only alternative to save the popular winter sport.

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