A trainer from the Tenzing Mountaineering Club demonstrates the river crossing technique at Bariatu Hills on Sunday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Jan. 22: The state government has not been able to utilise the rock climbing potential in Jharkhand and have thus missed out on an easy way to attract tourists, say professional rock climbers.

?Jharkhand has plenty of hills and mountains. There are so many good places where rock climbing could be undertaken. But the sport is not being promoted here,? said Narayan, a Ranchi College graduate and an avid rock climber, at the Bariatu Hills today.

Narayan and four other rock-climbing experts, under the banner of Tenzing Mountaineering and Archery Club, had got together to demonstrate the various aspects of the sport at the spot, in a bid to promote adventure sport and attract tourists.

?In Mumbai and other places, there are people who crave for rocky hills to climb. Even if such a spot is identified, there is a long queue for participants to wait for their turn to make endeavours. In some places, rock climbing enthusiasts are constructing artificial walls to indulge in the sport,? said Narayan, who had undergone courses in the sport from Manali and Mount Abu, places considered to be the hotbed for this recreation.

?But in spite of many suitable spots in Jharkhand, the state government has not cashed in on it. This could be a major attraction for tourist,? he added.

The five professionals demonstrated techniques such as zumari (climbing), rappelling (descending) and river crossing to onlookers at the Bariatu Hills venue.

The club, formed recently, is focussing on the sport and helping people indulge in it.

Another member of the club, Ujwal, said that although people are interested to take up the sport, there are not enough facilities.

?There is a need to explore the immense possibilities in mountaineering. Not much is being done in this regard in the state,? he added.

Pointing out the economic benefits the state could derive, he said: ?Developing rock climbing opportunities could generate employment for the people and the state can also earn a substantial revenue by attracting tourists.?

The basic aim of starting the club, he added, was to promote this sport and make it reach as many people as possible.

Apart from developing the sport, the five also expressed interest in training aspiring rock climbers who could then train others.

?If I get a job and have to leave the place and the sport behind, I would at least ensure that some others are trained so that the work of attracting people to this sport can go on,? Ujwal added.