(HT)
Arid Bundelkhand that saw trains fetching water brought from other states years before, is going to be UP’s hub of water sports.
Bundelkhand, a cluster of seven districts in southern Uttar Pradesh, long plagued by the scarcity of water faced challenges such as land infertility, and climate vulnerability bringing in initiatives such as water harvesting and dam construction.
Of the seven places identified for water sports five are in Bundelkhand region. “Dams and reservoirs have water round the year. Water sports do not consume water but attract tourists and boost local economy,” said a senior official with department of tourism.
Sailing, kayaking and canoeing, and other famous water sport activities will find new home in Uttar Pradesh along with other water sport activities. “Water sports will be promoted at seven dams and reservoirs,” said a press statement issued on Saturday by the state government.
“Water sports was promoted also during the Mahakumbh-2025,” said Jaiveer Singh, tourism minister of Uttar Pradesh.
The initiative is likely to engage ex-servicemen from Navy for water sports. “The dams and reservoirs selected for eco-tourism development include Gunta Dam in Chitrakoot, Arjun Dam in Mahoba, Dhandraul Dam in Sonbhadra, Maudha Dam in Hamirpur, Garhmau Lake in Jhansi, Majhouli Sagar in Siddharthnagar, and Nawab Tank in Banda,” said the press statement.
Bundelkhand gets less rain against state’s average. While in 2024, the state average rainfall was 746mm Jhansi’s average was 721mm, Mahoba had 598mm, Hamirpur 708mm while in Chatrakoot 785mm and Banda 767mm.
The state government plans to generate jobs too along with push to tourism with new restaurants, transport, and local guide services. Part of the plan include development of infrastructure at seven key sites across Chitrakoot, Mahoba, Sonbhadra, Hamirpur, Jhansi, Siddharthnagar, and Banda.
