Wildlife gives NOC to Tourism Deptt
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 17: In what can be seen as a major boost to the tourism activities in Surinsar lake, Wildlife Department has given permission to Tourism Department to operate passenger boats for tourists in the lake.
According to the sources, about three decades back, the passenger boat service was stopped simultaneously at Mansal and Surinsar lakes, two major tourist destinations in Jammu. Though, the service was restarted at Mansar lake in 2002 but it could not be started at Surinsar lake and in the absence of any leisure activity, the tourist footfall started decreasing in Surinsar.
Sources said though Director Tourism Jammu wrote many times in last few years to Wildlife Department seeking NOC for operation of boats in Surinsar lake but Wildlife Department was in denial mode always. However, after repeated requests of Director Tourism Jammu, the Chief Wildlife Warden, Jammu constituted a committee in July 2017 to critically examine the possibility of allowing boating in Surinsar lake.
Accordingly, the committee submitted its report in August 2017 with recommendation that 6 tourist boats (3 paddle boats and 3 rowing boats) can be allowed to operate in specified area but no boating activity should be allowed in the ecological vulnerable area and the area which is used by migratory birds and turtles for breeding.
“After the recommendations of the committee, the matter was referred to the Forest Department to allow the Tourism Department to operate boats for tourists in Surinsar lake,” sources said, adding, after the advice of the Forest Department to dispose off the matter under the extant rules, Chief Wildlife Warden Jammu on 25-10-2019 accorded permission for operation of passenger boats (3 paddle boats and 3 rowing boats) in Surinsar lake in favour of Director Tourism Jammu for the period upto 31-03-2021 but with some conditions.
“Once boating is started in Surinsar lake, this dying tourist spot will revive again,” sources hoped. They said this tourist spot has lost its popularity after stoppage of boating service, which was the only leisure activity available there.
When contacted, Nagendra Singh Jamwal, CEO, Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority said that though they have got permission to start boating in the lake but it will take some time as Tourism Department is yet to issue notice regarding this and invite applications from unemployed youth to start boating service.
Jamwal said that besides boating service, they are also planning to start other leisure/sports activities in the area lake such as Climbing Wall and Floating Jetty. “While the proposal for Climbing Wall has been submitted to the administrative department in this year’s budget, they are going to submit proposal for Floating Jetty in next year’s budget,” he added.
Director Tourism, Deepika Sharma, said, “Within a week, we are going to invite applications from private persons for starting boating service in the lake”. She expressed hope that within 15-20 days, the boating will be started in the lake after completion of all formalities.
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