Himachal Pong Dam to be a tourist centre

Dharamshala, Dec 18 (ANI): In a bid to attract tourists, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal laid down the foundation stone for a tourist reception centre at Pong Dam lake.

Well known for migratory birds, Pong Reservoir attracts a large number of water sports enthusiasts from various parts of the country.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on this occasion said his government was putting into use the grant of 500 crore rupees sanctioned by Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the development of the tourist destinations in the state.

"The tourism department received 500 crore rupees from Asian Development Bank. We have been assigned this amount to develop different tourist destinations in Himachal. The department has worked on war footing and has started various projects," said Dhumal.

Dhumal added that the tourism industry would also help in the creation of employment opportunities for the youngsters in the region, as they would be provided jobs as tourist guides after undergoing training for the same. (ANI)