Shimla, Oct 3 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh has decided not to hold its annual paragliding meet this year as one of the finest aero sports sites at Bir-Billing in Kangra district is set for a complete makeover.
“Currently, the work to develop Bir-Billing is in progress. It will still take time to bring it up to international standards. For this reason, we are not able to hold the annual paragliding event this time,” Director Tourism Arun Sharma told IANS.

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department had been holding the pre-world cup paragliding championships every October at Bir-Billing.

“Our aim is to expand its take off and landing sites so that the international body for the sport can give its affiliation,” Sharma said.

According to him, the take off site at Billing, situated at a height of 2,290 metres, allows only 30 to 40 gliders to take off at one time.

“As per international standards, a minimum of 100 gliders should take flight simultaneously. We are expanding the take off site so that at one go more than 100 can fly,” Sharma said.

Similarly, the landing site at Bir is not properly developed.

“We have acquired 103 hectares at Bir to develop the landing site. Presently, the gliders are landing in the fields, where the chances of injury are more. We are ensuring we provide better standards of safety to the gliders,” he said.

For developing the sites, the central government has already sanctioned Rs.1.27 crore.

Bir-Billing is considered to be one of the finest aero sports sites and its name has been included in international paragliding circuits.

More than 100 gliders, including 48 foreigners, participated in the championship held in October 2008. The participants included 10 women.

A world record was made at Bir-Billing in 1992 by French pilot Xavier Remond, who flew 130.9 km to set the ‘out and return world record’.