Rs 24 crore tourism project proposed for Pong Dam Wetland in Kangra district

Nurpur, February 2

Under the Centrally sponsored ‘Swadesh Darshan-2’ scheme, the state government has envisaged Rs 24 crore’s tourism development project to develop sustainable infrastructure at the Pong Dam Wetland in Kangra district.

In the first phase, solar boats and an online portal will be provided. Even as Pong reservoir has immense tourism potential, the successive governments have failed to harness it by establishing requisite infrastructure. Whatever infrastructure was raised to promote tourism in the wetland area has been lying neglected for the past several years.

Kangra Deputy Commissioner Nipun Jindal told The Tribune that he had a virtual meeting with officials of Union Ministry of Tourism recently and briefed the proposal of sustainable tourism development plan with them.

Apart from this, the DC also discussed every aspect related to the tourism plan with representatives of Voyants Solutions, a private consultancy company working to develop tourism infrastructure in the Pong wetland area.

Nagrota Surian, Fatehpur, Nangal Chowk and Mathiyal areas which fall in Pong wetland comprise their own specialties and efforts should also be made to create tourism development activities there.

These places have significant locations for boating, water sports, adventure activities, bird watching, historical temples and eco-tourism that can be developed from a tourism angle.

‘Swadesh Darshan Scheme-2’ has been launched by the central government to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations covering tourism and allied infrastructure, tourism services and human capital development in the country by adopting the Destination Centric Approach.