Maharashtra okays plan to lease out 146 guest houses near dams

MUMBAI: Experts expressed apprehensions after the state cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to develop and explore properties owned by water resources department as tourist destinations, citing serious security and environmental concerns as the water is used for drinking and domestic purposes.
The cabinet approved the proposal (Cash-strapped Maharashtra government to lease out 146 guest houses near dams, TOI, December 17, 2018) to develop the areas on the public-private partnership (PPP) model to generate revenue and employment for project-affected persons.
The decision by the government will allow even overnight stay for tourists at guest houses, inspection bungalows, observation posts and residential accommodation at irrigation sites in the state.
The state has 146 guest houses, with over 2,000 rooms available for tourism. The government hopes the move will provide employment opportunities to project-affected and locals after developing tourist destinations. Also, many properties are not in use due to lack of repairs and maintenance, and less manpower to maintain them.
Madhav Chitale, an expert, said the government must take precautionary measures near dams if it wants to develop them as tourist spots. "The state should tighten security at these areas and put them on alert. Also, distance should be maintained between the actual dam and guest houses. Special care should be taken with quality of equipment and tools at the dams, as they are important aspects in the region," Chitale told TOI.
Another expert, Parineeta Dandekar, raised the issue of maintenance of ecological balance at the areas near lakes. "Wildlife sanctuaries should not get destroyed while developing the reservoir sites as tourist spots. The state should come up with regulations and monitoring systems before implementing the model," Dandekar said. She pointed out security concerns, stating that areas near few dams have already been developed as tourist spots, where some suicides have been reported.
Reiterating concerns raised by Chitale and Parineeta, T V Shah, a retired BMC water department head, said the government should be more concerned about security at reservoirs. "Few reservoirs have hydro-projects and the water is used for farming. So, the government should be more alert on security aspects, as there are chances of untoward incidents," warned Shah.
The water resources department will frame policy guidelines for implementing the plan. The developer cannot sublease the properties.