Winter games begin in Gulmarg; Omar pitches for artificial snow | India News

Srinagar: J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the 6th edition of Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg on Monday.“The Khelo India Winter Games revives the ideals of peace, equality and friendship in the spirit of sports. In our vibrant, diverse nation of countless languages, cultures and traditions, Gulmarg’s Winter Games serve as a universal language and shared heritage,” said Sinha.The four-day event in Gulmarg will witness the participation of around 1,000 athletes and officials from various states and union territories.Speaking at the inauguration, CM Omar Abdullah reiterated his desire to develop Gulmarg as an international ski destination.“A few weeks ago, we saw extreme cold here. We had no idea that when the Games started, it would be so warm that it would be challenging to ski. We might have to make some adjustments,” Omar said.“For the past few days, we have been watching the Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy. I congratulate India’s skier, our very own Arif Khan, who proudly waved the national flag and represented the country. I hope that from this edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, a new Arif Khan will emerge,” he said.As Kashmir experiences its hottest February ever, with the maximum temperature reaching 21 degrees Celsius on February 21, the chief minister said the challenges posed by climate variability are visible. “The truth is we cannot depend on nature alone. We fix the dates of the games at the beginning of the year without knowing when it will snow or how much. I request the organizers not to fix the dates in advance. Let’s decide to hold the games 10 to 15 days after adequate snowfall,” he said.Omar also called for investment in artificial snow production systems. “It’s time we move towards artificial snow production. I understand the concern about water and power consumption, but if we don’t build this infrastructure, there may come a day when we won’t even be able to ski in Gulmarg, and that will be really unfortunate,” he said.“People associated with tourism like sledge operators, ski guides, ski instructors, ATV drivers, all earn their living from this snow. It is our duty to provide means and infrastructure that promotes tourism and ensures its sustenance,” the CM said.