Sammu Tal: From filthy pond to picnic spot

Sammu Tal, a filthy muddy pond located in the Bhoranj Assembly constituency of the district, is turning into a spectacular picnic spot as the state government has started developing a beautiful park around it.

The pond had remained on the agenda of the political parties during every Assembly and Lok Sabha elections for over 40 years. However, neither the BJP nor the Congress government tried to develop the place located between Bassi and Tarkwari business centres. There was also a proposal to set up a bus stand in the area. The filthy pond has given some bad memories to villagers as several animals had died after getting trapped in the mud .

Bhoranj MLA Suresh Kumar had raised the issue during the recent visit of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to develop the Sammu Tal. It was learnt that the government had sanctioned over Rs 5.3 crore for the development of the pond and the construction of the bus stand here.

Rajesh Sharma, a resident of Bassi, said the pond was constructed by erstwhile rulers of the area as a similar pool was there at Tal village, 7 km from here. He added that the initiative of local MLA Suresh Kumar had put the place into proper use for the benefit of people of the area.

Kumar said CM Sukhu had approved Rs 3.3 crore for the bus stand and Rs 2 crore for the development of Sammu Tal through the Tourism Department.