Lucknow: In a bid to promote water tourism and adventure sports in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to implement a new Water Tourism and Adventure Sports Policy 2023.
A proposal in this regard was passed during the meeting of the state cabinet which was chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at Lok Bhawan on Tuesday.
This policy will be applicable to all inland land-based, air-based and water routes, dams, reservoirs, lakes, rivers, ponds and all adventure activities to be carried out on various water bodies and land parcels within the jurisdiction of the state in UP.
Giving details of the proposals related to tourism passed by the cabinet, Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said that about 16,620 sq km in the foothills of the Himalayas in Vindhya and Bundelkhand regions of UP, as well as many beautiful landscapes, forest areas, flowing rivers and breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls, dams, reservoirs and lakes have a lot of potential for water-based tourism, adventure sports and water sports.
He said, “Keeping this in mind, we have brought its policy in the state, which has got approval from the cabinet. This policy will be valid for 10 years from the date of notification issued by the state government.”
Singh said that under the policy the nodal agency will create adventure sports units at the divisional level. “UP State Tourism Development Corporation will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UP Ex-Servicemen Welfare Corporation to include ex-servicemen in Adventure Sports Unit.” he said.
The Minister said, “Potential studies for water-based tourism and adventure sports will be conducted on notified land areas and water sources by the nodal agency and licences will be issued for water-based tourism and adventure sports on each land area and water sources.
The nodal agency will prepare a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) within 60 days from the date of issue of the policy.”
The Minister said that in addition to this, the cabinet approved a few other proposals for other big steps in the field of tourism. “A proposal of the tourism department to develop and operate closed, loss-making or non-operational tourist accommodation houses on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
He said that about 86 Rahi tourist accommodations were operated by the tourism department in the state of which 31 were approved to be developed on PPP mode. “Out of these, 10 have received better bids than the base price on the basis of e-tendering, which was approved by the cabinet.
These include Sonauli in Maharajganj, Bateshwar in Agra, Gokul Dham in Mathura, Kalinjar in Banda, Radha Kunj in Mathura, Sandi in Hardoi, Neemsar in Sitapur, Deogarh in Lalitpur and Rahi tourist accommodation in Bhadohi,” he said.
These guest houses will be given on lease for 30 years for the first time and then for another 30 years after renewal and 2 years for construction that is for a total of 62 years.
Singh said that it has also been decided to develop heritage buildings in the state as heritage tourism units on PPP model. “These will be developed as Heritage Hotel, Heritage Museum, Heritage Restaurant, Home Stay, Thematic Park, Mall Activity Center, Wellness Center and other tourism and hospitality,” he said.
He said that a total of 9 heritage buildings have already been identified for this. “These include Chhatar Manjil in Lucknow, Chunar Fort in Mirzapur, Barua Sagar Fort in Jhansi, Kothi Gulistan-e-Iram in Lucknow, Kothi Darshan Vilas in Lucknow, Kothi Roshan-ud-Daula in Lucknow, Barsana Jal Mahal in Mathura, Shukla Talab in Kanpur (6.90 acre) and Tikait Rai in Bithoor,” the Minister added.
