Farming practices are allowed in the wetland of Pong Dam area of Kangra district and the state government has given permission for this from this year, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly on Friday.

He was responding to the question of MLA Hoshyar Singh and supplementary questions of members of the House Bhawani Singh Pathania and Bikram Singh.

The Chief Minister, while talking about the eco-sensitive zone, said that no notification has been issued regarding it.

He said that before it is notified, discussions will be held with the MLAs of the respective assembly constituencies and their suggestions will be taken.

“The government is currently making efforts to remove some parts from the wildlife sanctuary area, however its rules are very strict,” he said.

The Chief Minister added that first the notification of Wild Life Sanctuary will be issued and after that the work of creating eco-sensitive zones will be done.

“The number of tourists visiting the area has decreased. The reason for this is natural disaster and boating licenses not being issued for a long time,” he said, adding that the Tourism Department has been directed to issue licenses for boating.

He informed that Pong Dam has earned Rs 881680 in the financial year 2021-22, Rs 216810 in the year 2022-23 and Rs 236150 in the year 2023-24 till January 15 this year from ticket window, boating and rest house.

He said that 4956 tourists have visited the area in the year 2021-22, 2198 in the year 2022-23 and so far, 1728 tourists have come here in the year 2023-24.

He said that in the year 2021-22, 110309 birds of 110 species, in the year 2022-23, 117022 birds of 108 species and in the year 2023-23 so far, 83555 birds of 86 species have arrived here.

Earlier, MLA Hoshyar Singh had sought to know about the income generated from this wildlife sanctuary area. He raised questions on the draft prepared for the eco-sensitive zone, decreasing the number of tourists and birds flocking in the Pong Dam area.

MLA Bhawani Singh Pathania said that farming should be started in the wetland, this will also increase the number of birds there.

Raising concern about the eco-sensitive zone, MLA Bikram Singh said there should be discussion regarding it and also need to look into the distress of the farmers living there who are suffering huge losses.

Agriculture Minister Chandra Kumar said that when the notification of eco-sensitive zones was issued, no objections were invited from anyone.

He said that this is an international wetland and many types of rules apply here, hence prior permission will be mandatory for any kind of construction there.

He suggested that this notification should be withdrawn.

The Chief Minister said that this matter is very serious and the MLAs are concerned and also the government is aware of their concerns and everyone will be consulted soon and they can also write to the PCCF.