Neglect at Billing: Paragliding site without basic amenities
Billing, one of the top 10 paragliding sites globally, is currently facing severe neglect despite its international status. Lacking essential amenities like drinking water, toilets and parking, the situation is becoming increasingly frustrating for both domestic and international tourists. The state government has spent crores on its development, but visitors report that little improvement is visible.
Next month, Billing is set to host the International Paragliding World Championship from November 4 to 10, with pilots from 30 countries participating. However, the site remains ill-equipped to handle the influx of tourists and participants. Hundreds of visitors arrive daily, yet there is no access to drinking water. Most are forced to purchase bottled water for as much as Rs 50 per bottle. To address the issue temporarily, the Special Area Development Authority has deployed water tankers to meet demand.
Local residents revealed that Billing previously received water through a gravity supply scheme that has since become defunct. No significant efforts have been made to restore it. Rahul Dhiman, Executive Engineer of the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Division Baijnath, stated that a new lift water supply scheme is ready, but it cannot be made operational due to the absence of a power supply connection.
The Tourism Department has financed the installation of a power transmission system, but the delay in releasing funds to the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) has hindered the project’s completion. The IPH department has raised this issue with the District Tourism Officer in Dharamsala.
The lack of basic facilities extends beyond water. Denis, a French travel agent who regularly brings tourists to Billing, commented on the site’’s poor condition. Despite being a popular destination for trekking and paragliding, Billing has no proper toilets, forcing tourists, especially women, to express their dissatisfaction. Women tourists from Delhi and Punjab reported their frustration at finding no available ladies’ toilets.
Anurag Sharma, president of the Bir Billing Paragliding Association (BPA), and Satish Abrol, president of the Bir Billing Hotel Association, noted that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had announced several development projects during his visit to Bir Billing last year. However, these projects remain unimplemented, adding to the difficulties faced by tourists.
Additionally, with no proper parking facilities, hundreds of vehicles are parked haphazardly on roadsides or forest land. Despite the imposition of a green tax on visitors, the tourism department has failed to provide even the most basic infrastructure.
