Plan to upgrade skating rink shelved

anu P Lohumi

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Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 17

In a major setback to the Shimla Ice-Skating Club, the ambitious Rs 18-crore project to upgrade Asia’s biggest natural ice-skating rink into an open semi-artificial rink has been shelved due to Covid.

The project was sent to the Union Government by the state Tourism Department and the first instalment of Rs 8 crore was sanctioned but the tender process could not be completed as the bidders and technical teams were unable to visit the site due to the pandemic, said club secretary Bhuvanesh Banga.

“The funds have lapsed and efforts will be made to revive the project. We will soon meet the Chief Minister as he is also holding the tourism portfolio,” Banga told The Tribune.

Running a semi-artificial rink was economical as compared to the closed ice-skating rink, which required extra electricity for cooling. Further, the open rink would preserve the natural look which was the main attraction, he added.

The project envisages laying of underground pipes for chilling, concreting of the rink measuring 58 metres in length and 30 metres in width and installation of refrigeration plant, besides the construction of underground parking and sitting arrangement of around 250 persons.

Felling of trees in the vicinity of the rink, which provided shade to the rink, and the haphazard construction and pollution caused by the adjoining bus stand have resulted in an increase in temperature taking its toll on the number of sessions.

Clear sky with low temperature was the pre-requisite for a good season and “semi artificial rink” was the only alternative to save the popular winter sport as other factors were beyond the control, said treasurer of the club Pankaj Prabhakar.

The average minimum and maximum temperatures which used to be between 4 and 5 degrees and 8 and 10 degrees have risen significantly, resulting in the delayed start and early ending of the season.

The minimum session of ice-skating (12) were witnessed in 1972 while the maximum 118 sessions were held in 1997-98. There are about 250 members of the club. Established in 1920, this is the centenary year of the club, but the celebrations are marred by the pandemic and even the regular features like carnival and gymkhana have been cancelled.