Himachal: From dirty pond to picnic spot

Himachal Pradesh: Sammu Tal, a dirty and muddy pond located in the Bhoranj Assembly constituency of the district is now turning into a great picnic spot, as the state government has started developing a beautiful park around it. The pond has been on the agenda of political parties during every Assembly and Lok Sabha elections for over 40 years. However, neither the BJP nor the Congress government tried to develop this place located between Bassi and Tarkwari business centres. There was also a proposal to set up a bus stand in the area. The dirty pond has given some bad memories to the villagers, as many animals have died after getting stuck in the mud.

Bhoranj MLA Suresh Kumar had raised the issue during the recent visit of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to develop Sammu Tal. It was learned that the government has sanctioned an amount of over Rs 5.3 crore for the development of the pond and construction of a bus stand here. Bassi resident Rajesh Sharma said that this pond was constructed by the then rulers of the area, as there was a similar pond in Tal village, 7 km from here. He said that with the initiative of local MLA Suresh Kumar, this place is being used for the benefit of the people of the area. Kumar said that CM Sukhu has sanctioned Rs 3.3 crore for the bus stand and Rs 2 crore for the development of Sammu Tal through the Tourism Department.