Season on at Sultanpur as visitors fly in

The Tourism department,meanwhile,is making arrangements to attract more visitors with the start of the peak tourist season — December to February — as well as keeping in mind the Commonwealth Games next year.

“We have revamped the existing motel for visitors,keeping the Commonwealth Games in view,” said Keshni Anand Arora,financial commissioner,Tourism department,Haryana.

The Forest department is also planning to expand the existing boundary as well as the water bodies,which were earlier rain-fed. “There are also plans to popularise the existing conducted tours for visitors and organise better bird-watching sessions with good binoculars and equipment on watchtowers,with an in-charge,” said D K Sinha,Conservator,Forest,South circle,Gurgaon.

The Forest department is also looking at the maintenance of water bodies and provision of adequate food for the birds. When asked whether there has been any difference in the number of birds due to the delayed winters,Sinha said: “Birds are sensitive and require optimum climate conditions for breeding. Though there has been some delay in the onset of winter this season,the effect is not drastic,as of now.”

Meanwhile,although funds have been allocated to the tourism department for additional facilities like toilets,walkways,rain sheds and a computer-cum-knowledge centre for visitors,No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Forest department are still to be issued,a senior Tourism official said.

Also,another visible drawback for visitors is the approach road,which has been rendered unfit for use as a result of the ongoing construction work on a railway overbridge. “We used to get full occupancy,especially during weekends,before the construction work began. Now,even during the peak season,occupancy has fallen by 10 to 15 per cent,” said Dharamvir,manager at Rosy Pelican Tourist Resort here.

Sunita,a Gurgaon resident and a regular visitor to the lake,said: “It is good to be here but the muddy detour to reach the place takes a toll on us. It makes one think twice before planning a trip to the sanctuary again.”

When asked what was being done to finish work on the connecting road,the completion deadline for which was December 2007,Arora said they have sent several reminders to the public works division to finish the project at the earliest possible date.

Sighted at the sanctuary
* Pelican
* Bar-headed Goose
* Grey Lag Goose
* Common Teal
* Wigeon
* Garganey
* Shoveller
* White-eyed Pochard
* Gadwall