Uttarakhand Licenses 200 Trekking Guides, 124 Rafting Operators as Paragliding Rules Lag
The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board has issued licences to about 200 newly trained trekking guides and 124 rafting operators on the Ganga, while paragliding licensing remains in process, with unlicensed flights reported in Mussoorie and Maldevta.
Current Summary
The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) has issued licences to roughly 200 newly trained trekking guides across the state and 124 rafting licences for operations on the Ganga, according to adventure sports officer Seema Nautiyal. Licences for paragliding operators are still being processed: of 16 applicants, seven have been granted licences in the Bhimtal area of Nainital district, while no paragliding licence has yet been issued to any operator in Dehradun. Nautiyal said applications are rejected when operators fail to meet prescribed conditions, such as unclear take-off or landing land titles, or submit incomplete documents, though applicants are given time to rectify deficiencies before rejection. On illegal adventure sports activity, she said the department refers complaints to the district tourism development officer for inquiry. Separately, a paragliding operator in Maldevta claimed flights resumed there on September 15 and are ongoing, and a tour guide and agent said paragliding has long operated without licences in Maldevta and Mussoorie.
What We Know
- UTDB has licensed about 200 trekking guides statewide.
- 124 rafting licences have been issued for Ganga operations.
- Seven of 16 paragliding applicants have been licensed, all in Bhimtal, Nainital; none yet in Dehradun.
- Operators in Maldevta and Mussoorie are reported to be flying paragliders without licences.
What Is Still Unclear
- Timeline for clearing the remaining nine pending paragliding applications.
- What enforcement action, if any, will follow against operators flying without licences in Maldevta and Mussoorie.
What Changed
- 5 Oct, 06:01 pmSignal detected: Uttarakhand Licenses 200 Trekking Guides, 124 Rafting Operators as Paragliding Rules Lag