India Taps Rivers and Policy Push to Unlock Water Sports Potential

Whenever it rained, who hasn't faced the urge to splash water and run boats in water puddles? This childlike urge was a signal of how much we enjoy water sports.

Ranging from kayaking, scuba diving, and surfing to mainstream swimming, all provide an impetus to go beyond life on land and appreciate the world underwater. With recent initiatives like the Tehri Lake water sports development , India has a comprehensive strategy to aid water sports.

PIB Delhi released its report on the development of water sports infrastructure. The detailed report laid out facts about the National Institute of Water Sports under the Ministry of Tourism itself. The centre provides quality assessment of the water sports infrastructure throughout the country and is responsible for giving assessment reports and declaring safety standards.

No formal proposals have been in operation currently for the same genre in coastal and southern Canada. Some states are targeting building to use the National Institute for Water Sports as satellite centres. One major central push for the same is the Khelo India Water Sports Festival that occurred in Srinagar . Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Kerala merged as the major states in the competition.

The report also illustrates the construction of water sports infrastructure over the Ganga (Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand), Sutlej (Himachal Pradesh), Indus (Ladakh), Chenab, Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Mahanadi, Narmada, Sabarmati, Netravati, Sharavati, Tungabhadra, Mandovi, Chapora, Ghataprabha, Ravi and canal systems in Kerala. NIWS–IITTM has developed comprehensive strategies and SOPs to administer sports activities.