Call for sustainable tourism push in inner seraj: Local activist urges green, eco-sensitive development

United News of India

13-07-2025

Banjar, July 13 (UNI) Inner Seraj Valley, a rapidly emerging tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh, must embrace sustainable tourism practices to balance ecological preservation with development, says local social worker Hem Raj Sharma from Palach Valley.
In a detailed memorandum, Sharma urged the government and tourism planners to prioritise green infrastructure and introduce measures that avoid the environmental degradation often caused by unplanned construction.
Citing the rising influx of both domestic and international tourists, Sharma called for eco-sensitive access roads to key hidden gems of the region, including the Serolsar Lake, Raghupur Garh, and the Gahidhar waterfall in Tirthan Valley. He advocated for motorable connectivity only through environmentally responsible methods, without harming nature or disturbing water streams.
Sharma emphasised the promotion of temple tourism through local taxi circuits to religious sites like Bala, Bahu, and Goshala temples, saying it would create employment and boost the local economy. Similarly, the development of a paragliding site between Palach and Sheel village and a nature park in Bahu or Jibhi Valley could attract longer tourist stays.
Highlighting infrastructure gaps, Sharma demanded the reconstruction of the crucial Aut Bridge over the Beas River and advocated for declaring the Khundan–Luhri road as a National Highway.
He proposed a green tax barrier at Larji to generate dedicated funds for sustainable tourism projects, ensuring SDM Banjar oversee fund utilisation.
However, Sharma warned against indiscriminate construction, blasting, and mining in fragile hill regions and flood plains. He stressed the importance of conducting proper Environmental Impact Assessments before building hospitality units or laying road infrastructure. 'We must prioritise ropeways, underground tunnels, check dams, and resilient transportation over ecologically harmful methods,' he added.
Sharma also called for mapping fault-prone zones in every village and identifying new habitations that respect local ecology. He emphasised the need for strict soil conservation, flood control, and recognising forests and water streams as revenue-vulnerable assets.
'In Inner Seraj, our vision should be to host the world while preserving our roots,' he concluded.
UNI ML ARN