Excelsior Sports Correspondent
REASI, May 10: District Development Commissioner, Dr Shahid Iqbal laid foundation stone of ambitious Water Sports, Rafting and Rural Sports Facilitation Complex on the banks of Chenab near Reasi, today.
The sports complex has been taken up under District Innovation Fund and is being constructed by Rural Development Department at an estimated cost of Rs 23 lakh in Phase-I and view points, cafeteria and restrooms to be developed by Tourism Department.
Another sports complex under the scheme is also planned for Thanpal near Salal Dam.
The sports complex has been started by district administration to give boost to the tourism infrastructure and tap the potential of youth engaged in self-employment.
It is also aimed at providing facilities to more than 20 lakh pilgrims visiting Shiv Khori Shrine every year.
River rafting, jumping, zorbing, water sports and other facilities are being created for developing Reasi as a tourist destination.
A cafeteria and canteen also forms part of the project. Recreational facilities for children are planned to encourage local tourism. The project will be managed by district administration through panchayat.
The DDC directed the department to complete the task in time bound manner to make it functional by July 2014. He said that creation of rural sports infrastructure and water sports will go a long way in developing Reasi as a tourist destination.
More projects of tourism infrastructure development have been planned in the district, one of the prestigious project in current year is Indian Style of Wrestling Stadium being taken up in current year by the district administration through NHPC, he added.
The project will also have a tie up with District Red Cross Society and Civil Defence for which two Rescue Rafts will be procured to be used for rescue operations as well as for rafting by tourists.
A dedicated team of Red Cross and CD volunteers as well as expert rafters is on rolls for management of these exercises in River Chenab.
SSP Reasi Vivek Gupta, ACD Joginder Singh Rai, Additional SP Sanjay Rana, DPO Rohit Sharma, SDPO Mushtaq Ahmed, X-En REW and senior officers of various departments were present on the occasion.
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