Ground report: Ranjit Sagar lake area yet to be developed as tourist destination

In November 2014, the ruling SAD-BJP combine spent crores of rupees of tax-payers’ money to fly in top executives of the hospitality sector from various cities of the country to the Ranjit Sagar dam in a chartered plane. They were later taken to the dam in choppers. The motive was to impress upon them the financial viability of investing in developing tourism spots like the islands of Kalara and Musharba in the midst of the Ranjit Sagar Lake. Two days before the honchos’ trip to the lake, top officials of the Punjab government had pitched tent in the city to ensure nothing untoward happened when the Delhi businessmen came visiting.

In the evening, a decision was taken by the state government and the businessmen to develop the islands that so tourism could be given a boost in the area.

Develop area, demand residents

Real estate developers had started taking a keen interest and prices of land in the surrounding areas had increased. However, beyond that, nothing happened. Land prices are now back to normal.

Residents say the state government should get in touch with the Union government to develop the area instead of handing it over to private businessmen.

After that day, nothing has been heard of about the venture which was touted as then Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal’s ‘pet project.’ He had a dream to convert the lake into a state-of-the-art tourism hub on the lines of the ones established in Singapore and Malaysia. The Junior Badal was helped by then MP and film actor Vinod Khanna who had promised to use his contacts to develop the project.

Locals had remained sceptical about the project’s viability and had labelled it as a “venture for the neo-rich”. At that time, Sukhbir had promised that a roadmap would be in place within two months. However, not a brick has been laid. It is said that he lost interest after a survey pointed out that tourists will always prefer to go to nearby Dalhousie, which is just a two-hour drive from Pathankot, because of its better road connectivity.

Real estate developers had started taking a keen interest and prices of land in the surrounding areas had increased. However, beyond that, nothing happened. Land prices are now back to normal.

Residents say the state government should get in touch with the Union government to develop the area instead of handing it over to private businessmen.

wuw

Amritsar