Cabinet meet:  Policy to make UP adventure sports destination gets nod

According to the state government, there is “immense scope” for water sports activities and adventure sports in areas falling in the hills of Vidhya and Bundelkhand regions and forests of Terai area in the Himalayas due to the presence of waterfalls, rivers, dams, water bodies and lakes. This policy will be applicable to all inland land-based, air-based and water routes, dams, reservoirs, lakes, rivers and ponds, and all adventure activities to be carried out on various water bodies and land parcels within the jurisdiction of Uttar Pradesh, the minister said.

Under the policy, district magistrates will issue licences for organisation of adventure sports and water tourism activities. Adventure sports units will be set up for taking action in the direction of water and adventure tourism. Services of ex-servicemen will also be utilised in these units. The government will also draft a detailed standard operation procedure (SOP) for water and adventure sports activities in the state.

Jaiveer Singh said adventure and water sports activities had given a fillip to tourism in Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa and the state government was confident that the move would boost tourism in Uttar Pradesh as well. —

WITH PTI INPUTS