Himachal govt. to tap tourism potential of Pong wetland

Friday, February 24, 2023

The Himachal Pradesh administration is planning to capitalise on the tourism potential of the Pong wetland, a Ramsar site in the lower Kangra hills. To attract more tourists, water sports activities will be launched there.

Maharana Pratap Sagar, also known as Pong Reservoir or Pong Dam Lake is a large reservoir in Fatehpur, Jawali and Dehra tehsil of Kangra district of the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It was created in 1975, by building the highest earthfill dam in India on the Beas River in the wetland zone of the Siwalik Hills.

The state’s Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Chander Kumar made the remarks while speaking to public gatherings at the Jawali Assembly constituency’s Ludhiad and Sidhpur Ghat. He stated that the Government had given a nod to the Asian Development Fund’s (ADB) Rs 145-crore Pong Lake Ecotourism Development Project to promote tourism in the wetland area.

Another Rs 67-crore tourist project was also under discussion by the Centre, and it was expected to be approved shortly.

“The expansion of tourism activities in the Pong wetland will make it a prominent tourist destination,” he added.

The minister stated that he was attempting to restart the Sukhahar Canal construction work as well as the proposed bridges on the Gaj and Dehar khuds in the district.

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