UDHAMPUR: CEO Patnitop Development Authority Sachin Dev Singh on Monday visited the Dalsar Lake Project here along with his technical team to gain the first hand information and chalk out a revival plan for the project.
Dalsar Lake Project was undertaken for development by Patnitop Development Authority during 2004-05 and consists of various infrastructure including a Guest House, Children’s swimming pool, view points and pathways with lights around the lake. But after its development and completion, the infrastructure could not be made fully functional by handing over its operations to any private or Govt body, and hence was not put to use. In the absence of proper care, the assets thus created kept on deteriorating day by day and as on date have become obsolete and damaged to a great extent. Ramnagar Tourism Development Society, a local social organisation, had recently requested CEO Patnitop Development Authority to visit the spot and make some fresh plans for the revival of the project with necessary repairs wherever needed and thereafter appointing some caretaker, throw open the spot for prospective tourists etc so that tourism activities can give way to some economic boost in the area.
Pertinent to mention that the Dalsar Lake is a fresh water lake in Ramnagar. Because of no care, the children’s swimming pool is totally damaged and the guest house is also in shabby condition. View points in the premises of the catchment of the project are being used by the locals to keep their domestic animals etc. Pathways are broken and the open space is full of parthenium grass. The public money so invested in the project is all but a waste. Ravi Kant, President of Ramnagar Tourism Development Society, said that their Society was ready to undertake a mass plantation drive in the area to make it further environment friendly as well as an important attraction for the tourists.
“After restoring the project to a working condition, it should be handed over to some private agency through a process of bidding who can further run it on commercial basis and thus an opportunity of revenue for the Govt and of employment in the society is generated,” he added.
