Prior permission must to view Kol Dam lake

Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, November 11

Visitors who want to have a look at the Kol Dam lake from the view point built by the NTPC, near Jamthal village in Bilaspur district, will now have to seek prior permission from the authorities to enter the fenced area.

The decision has, however, invited the wrath of locals, who termed the move as “dictatorial action” of the NTPC authorities. Sandeep Sankhyan, general secretary of the District Congress Committee, Bilaspur, said the fencing at the view point site would affect tourism activities and small business entities in the area.

Public Relations Officer, NTPC (Koldam), Parveen Ranjan Bharti said the decision had been taken in view of frequent instances of nuisance by miscreants during night hours. Visitors could enter the view point area after prior permission from the NTPC office, said Parveen Bharti.

The lake had come up following the dam construction on the Sutlej. The stone of the dam was laid by late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on June 5, 2000, and was commissioned in 2015.