Bathinda is set to become a hub for watersports with the development of the Malwa region’s first rowing facility at the defunct Guru Nanak Dev thermal plant. The artificial lake, now being redeveloped into a rowing nursery, will train budding athletes and host national-level events.
The Bathinda Development Authority (BDA) has granted the necessary approvals for the project, with a rowing competition scheduled for March. The initiative is part of a larger plan, proposed in 2022, to repurpose the thermal plant’s assets after its closure in 2017.
Deputy Commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray confirmed the project’s approval, with final estimates underway. “The rowing nursery will be functional soon, and the BDA is actively redeveloping the project,” he said.
This will be the second rowing facility in the state, after Rupnagar. Harpreet Singh Sudan, the state’s director of sports, mentioned that the facility would feature a coach initially, with further enhancements in the future.
Narinder Singh Dhaliwal, the BDA’s additional chief administrator, highlighted that the first phase will utilize Lake No. 3, with plans to link it to Lake No. 2 for international-standard competitions in the second phase. This new facility is expected to bring significant growth in watersports participation across Punjab.
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