SHILLONG: April 10 2022 (PTI Source)
The Meghalaya state government is working to increase the attractiveness of the tourism industry by adding several attractions to the tourist destination Umiam Lake near the state capital.
Several activities are available, including a floating restaurant, parasailing, and jet skiing. There have also been discussions about introducing cable car transportation.
On Thursday, Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Saleng Sangma said that work on the floating restaurant has already begun, and a Kolkata-based firm will implement it.
The contractor has been asked to speed up the process and complete the job within the next few months.
The opening of these facilities is a means to boost the tourism industry. According to Sangma, on Monday, the state government allowed the inclusion of parasailing and jet ski activities.
Firms identified by the federal government will operate the services. If everything goes as planned, these operations will begin this month.
The Meghalaya government is also looking at the possibility of building cable cars over the Umiam Lake, but it wants to be sure they’re secure and safe.
According to Sangma, the purpose is to build a cable car service from the Convention Centre on Umiam Lake to an adjacent island.
“A cable car service over Umiam Lake would offer a better experience than the cable car service over the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati because Umiam is much more beautiful. If we can come up with cable cars, it would be a nicer trip than using a boat on the Brahmaputra River, as our location is far more attractive.” Sangma added.
A bit about Umiam Lake
Umiam Lake, also called Barapani Lake, is a reservoir in the hills 15 kilometres to the north of Shillong. It is an artificial lake created by damming the Umiam river during the early 1960s. It spreads over 220 square kilometres and is surrounded by forest lands. Barapani lake is also a popular tourist destination and offers boating and other water sports facilities.