Kufri to be stink-free, land identified for stable

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 8

The famous tourist resort of Kufri, 14 km from Shimla, is all set to become a happening place again. Kufri has been losing its appeal after major winter sport skiing was discontinued there due to a lack of snowfall.

An ambitious project is in the pipeline to bring activity back to Kufri and revive ski slopes that are stinking due to piling horse dung. A piece of 10 bighas (two acres) has been identified to establish a horse stable, parking, biomethanation plant and a rural ‘haat’.

“Ten bighas have been identified near Chini Bangla to set up a stable to accommodate 1,500 horses. A token system will be introduced for hiring horses. Besides, a biomethanation plant will also be established adjacent to the stable to produce methane gas from horse dung,” said Aditya Negi, Deputy Commissioner, Shimla.

The plant, funded by the state Pollution Control Board, would be set up in collaboration with the Science and Technology Department. It would go a long way in providing a clean and serene environment, as horse dung that creates unhygienic conditions would be treated there.

“The estimate of the project that also envisages the construction of parking spaces to decongest the area, beautification, pedestrian paths, and a rural ‘haat’ is being prepared,” he said. The possibility of reviving skiing and associated activities was also being explored and officers had been asked to identify skiing slopes in Kufri, he added.

Skiing was a major winter attraction in Shimla and Kufri where hill slopes covered with a thick blanket of snow provided thrill and excitement to skiers and tourists. The last ski carnival at Kufri was held in February 1968 but over the years, the snowline had shifted upwards and barring a few sessions in 1982 and 1991, skiing in Kufri had been a fond memory of the past.

A large number of resorts have come up in the area and ‘Chini Bangla’ is located on the Kufri-Chail road. Hundreds of vehicles heading to Chail pass through this stretch and the beautification and creation of more facilities would improve tourist experience.

Another mega private project coming up at Kufri is India’s first indoor ski park; a memorandum of understanding for the project was signed with the government last year. As per a study conducted for the development of Kufri, the average occupancy rate in Shimla district is 49.9 per cent. Tourists on an average spend 1.5 nights and their average expenses are Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.