SHIMLA: In a bid to boost adventure sports activities in the state and working towards
prosperity seems to be the mandate of the state government. The state government has
notified the ‘Himachal Pradesh Water Sports and Allied Activities Rules-2021’ thus paved
the way to hold water sports activities in the state. In December, 2019, draft rules were
published in the Rajpatra inviting objections/suggestions from the general public under Rule
65 of the HP Tourism Department and Registration Act 2002.
It is stated that no objection or suggestion has been received during the stipulated
period, hence the government decided to move fast on the matter. After getting nod from the
governor, notification was issued. It is also stated that these rules came into force from the
date of publication in e-Gazette, Himachal Pradesh.
These rules will be called the Himachal Pradesh Water Sports and Allied Activities
Rules 2021 and extended to the whole of the state. Notably, in 2017, a meeting was held in
the office of the deputy commissioner, Mandi, who was also the nodal officer of these rules.
The meeting was also attended by Wakeboard and Water Ski Federastion of India (WWSFI)
general secretary, Mr Rajpal Singh. After a marathon discuassion point-wise, the rules have
been finalised.
The exhaustive notified policy contain definition, procedure of registration of water
sports and allied activities operator, boatman, boat driver and life guard and their
qualifications. The rules stgressed on safety measures and necessary equipments required for
carrying out water sports and allied activities operation and also other miscellanerous
provisions.
The notification states, ”application for registration of Water Sports and Allied
Activities Operator.- (1) Any person intending to act as a Water Sports and Allied Activities
Operator may make an application in FORM-1 to the prescribed
authority for registration along with a demand draft of Rs.2000/- in favour of prescribed
authority and required documents as per these rules for the ensuing season in the months of
January/February and July/ August each year. The prescribed authority shall scrutinize the
applications, so received initially and put up the same before the Technical Committee
(constituted by the state government ) which shall
hold the inspection before 15th of April and 15th of October each year, respectively by fixing
date, time and venue for the scrutiny, inspection of the documents, office and equipments,
conducting practical/physical tests of Crew members, Life Guards, Boatmen and Motor Boat
Drivers etc. by giving at least 15 days clear notice to all the eligible Operators/Applicants. (2)
Any person intending to act as Water Sports and Allied Activities operator may apply for
registration at any time during the year, however, his application shall be considered in the
month of January-February and July-August. (3) The prescribed authority shall issue a
Certificate of Registration in
FORM-2 to the concerned operator, only after the approval of the Technical Committee, for a
period of three years. The registration shall be non-transferabl”.
Earlier, the Wakeboard and Water Ski Federation of India (WWSFI) had
approached the state government offering itself to introduce water sports in the state.The state
government had appointed a nodal officer to oversee the development in the matter directly.
The deputy director, Tourism, has written a letter to the Commissioner, Tourism regarding
urgency of framing detailed rules/guidelines for regulating the water sports activities. The
WWSFI is also intended to set up regular high profile international wakeboard and water ski
coaching centre at Tattapani in Mandi district. The general secretary, Rajpal Singh said that
with framing water sports policy, the federation will be able to hold national and international
competitions in near future and would be a milestone in promoting adventure water sports
that in turn proved a revenue booster dose to the tourism.
He further said that formalities would be worked out and soon offered to hold
training as well as competitions in water sports.