Bilaspur will be developed as an attractive tourist destination on the lines of Kerala and Goa: Sukhu

Bilaspur, October 29: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today inaugurated water sports activities at Gobind Sagar Lake located at Mandi-Bharadi in Bilaspur. Giving new dimensions to tourism activities in the area, cruise, Shikara ride, houseboat, high-tech motorboat, jet skis and water scooter activities have been started here.

On this occasion, he said that these activities will promote tourism as well as provide employment and self-employment opportunities to local youth. Along with tourism, this new initiative will provide a new market to local businesses, especially women and small entrepreneurs, for exhibition and sale of local products, which will strengthen their economy.

To promote Bilaspur as a tourist destination, the Chief Minister said that Bilaspur is being developed as an attractive tourist destination on the lines of Kerala and Goa by promoting religious, rural and eco-tourism as well as water based activities. The State Government is promoting the natural beauty, cultural heritage and adventure activities of the district, as a result of which Bilaspur is making its special identity on the tourism map of the state. He said that as a result of the multi-faceted efforts of the State Government, the number of tourists in the area will increase, which will lead to economic development of the region.

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The Chief Minister said that the Bilaspur District Administration has been directed to start the tender process for starting cruise and Shikara related activities on the Kol Dam reservoir. Under this ambitious project, a beautiful cruise route of 30 km will be developed from Harnora in Bilaspur district to Tattapani in Shimla district. This water route will provide an unforgettable travel experience to the tourists. Tourists will be able to enjoy a memorable cruise ride towards Shimla through Kol Dam.

With an aim to encourage new tourism activities in the state, the Chief Minister enjoyed a thrilling ride on a jet ski and a cruise journey. The Chief Minister is promoting adventure activities to develop Himachal as the country’s favourite destination.

While talking informally to journalists, the Chief Minister said that the state government is constantly making efforts to promote tourism activities. As a result of these efforts, cruise and other new water sports related activities have been started in Bilaspur even before the completion of two years of the present government’s term.

He said that the present state government is developing the tourism sector prominently and efforts are being made to promote green industries and attract investment in this sector. He said that water resources are available in abundance in Himachal Pradesh and there are immense possibilities of water sports activities in the state.

Sukhu said that as a result of the far-sighted thinking and commitment of the state government, successful operation of cruise, jet ski and shikaras has been possible in Bilaspur within two years.

On this occasion, Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, HPTDC Chairman RS Bali, former minister Ram Lal Thakur, former MLAs Bumber Thakur, Tilak Raj Sharma and Babu Ram Gautam, Congress leader Vivek Kumar, District Congress President Anjana Dhiman, ADGP Satwant Atwal, Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain were also present.