Early times Report
Jammu, July 2: As part of its endeavour to boost adventure tourism and sports activities post COVID-19 pandemic, the Jammu and Kashmir administration is in the process of setting up an artificial rock climbing wall at picturesque Surinsar lake, around 40 kilometres from here.
This will be the first climbing wall being raised by the government in Jammu as Kashmir already have one.
Built in Surinsar Amphitheater known as ‘Nanisukh’, by the Outdoor School, a New Delhi based firm, the artificial rock climbing wall is being raised with a cost of approximately Rs 36 lakh and the 42 feet high wall features Speed and Lead Climbing and has got the provision to further add Bouldering, the third form of the sport.
Initiated by the then Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Surinsar Mansar Development Authority (SMDA), Nagender Singh Jamwal, the wall is almost complete and likely to be inaugurated soon but in view of COVID, its official launch was delayed.
Sharing details with UNI, sitting CEO of SMDA, Dr Gurvinderjeet Singh, said, “ Tenders estimated at the cost of Rs 36.5 lakhs were invited for this project and the construction work started in January this year.”
He said that it is a two face wall comprising a speed climbing wall and the lead climbing wall.
“Once the finishing is done, allied work will be taken up for which more funds have been projected from the government,” said the CEO.
The climbing wall here is in tribute to the Everesters such as Inspector Ram Singh and Phulail Singh of Jammu Kashmir Police, Col Ranveer Jamwal, and budding and enduring athletes of the region.
However, Executive Engineer, SMDA, K L Bhagat said that the lead wall is having dimensions of 4 metres by 13 metres (13 feet) and the speed wall is having a dimension of 5 metres by 13 metres (16 feet).
“Both the climbing activities are on the same wall and if all goes well, the project will be thrown open for the climbers, budding mountaineers as well public by year end,” he added.
Senior Vice-President, Mountaineering Association of Jammu and Kashmir, Ram Khajuria said, “we have inspected the wall with a team of experts and it meets almost required basics.”
He added that for climbers taking part in adventure sports, speed and lead walls are well designed but bouldering, which is a part of the sport, is missing and should be introduced to make it a complete wall.
“With this first government created Wall, not only adventure sports activities but will also give boost to tourism in coming years,” he added.
Pertinently, the first climbing wall in Jammu came up at Cybernetics School for Intellectuals, in 2001, which was a 90 degree - 32 feet high wall. The second wall was at Montessori Nargis Dutt Public School RS Pura, built in 2005.
The third wall was at Sprawling Buds ICSE School Bantalab, which came up in 2008. The students have been practicing at these walls for years.
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