The Uttarakhand High Court has been banned white river rafting, paragliding, and other water sports in the state pending a policy on the identical which is framed by the Trivendra Singh Rawat-led government.
Scrutinize that there is no law which also regulates water sports, the court told that they are being carried out illegally. A two-judge bench has also provided and deliver the state government 2 weeks which is prior to a transparent draft policy.
The court, which was hearing a petition that mentioned that the government was issuing illegal licenses to private companies which were to conduct water sports, issued its order on June 18.
This is mentioned that via the draft policy, the government should fix prices for water sports which invite tenders for conducting the sports.
“The State Government cannot be oblivious to its duties to regulate and restrict the unauthorized activities. The white river rafting is a serious sport. Paragliding is equally dangerous if not regulated. The water sports in big lakes like Tehri Dam can prove fatal. These are required to be regulated,” the court stated.
Post seeing pictures of picnics inside the river and camping sites on the river bed, the judges told about the sanctity of the rivers was not being maintained.
This is also being said about these activities of the rivers which were polluting the environment and ecology of the river as well as in the surrounding areas. “The tourism must be promoted but it is required to be regulated. The sports for pleasure cannot be permitted to end in disaster,” the court added.
The water sports will resume post the state government has drafted its policy regarding the same.
Leave a Reply