JAMMU: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Friday related economic welfare of the State to the development of tourism underlining the greater scope for harnessing wide-ranging tourist potential of the State in a planned and befitting manner.
“There is also need to divert pilgrim tourists visiting Mata Vaishno Devi in large numbers to other parts to help generating economic activities holisticallyâ€, he said adding that the steps initiated in this direction require further boost.
Chairing 3rd meeting of Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority (SMDA) of which he is also the Chairman, the Chief Minister said that Mansar and Surinsar lakes along with pilgrimage sites of Purmandal and Utterbani have good potential for attracting tourists.
Omar Abdullah said that government has focused attention on creating befitting infrastructure at tourist places inconsonance with ecology and environment requirements to maintain the balance between the two. He said Development Authorities constituted in the State have prime duty of showcasing the areas under their jurisdiction for national and international tourism and creating appropriate tourist facilities in their areas.
The Chief Minister asked the SMDA to conserve and protect the natural beauty of the two famous lakes and provide up to the mark facilities for the tourists coming to these places and visiting Utterbani and Purmandal pilgrim sites.
Minister for Tourism, Nawan Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Devender Singh Rana, Legislators, Harsh Dev Singh, Jugal Kishore and Yash Pal Kundal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Atal Duloo and various senior officers were present in the meeting.
In a PowerPoint presentation Chief Executive Officer, SMDA, Mohinder Singh explained the achievements registered by the Development Authority in upgrading tourist facilities at Mansar and Surinsar lakes and at the sites of Utterbani and Purmandal.
He said that Rs. 1445 lakhs have been spent by the Authority since its inception on the construction of Children Amusement Park, Restaurant, Club Building, Day Boarding, Bathing Ghats, Viewing Decks, Shopping Complexes, Public Convenience, Water Aerators, Viewing Points, Construction of Tile Paths, Parking places for vehicles and approach roads.
He said during the last three years more than Rs. 6.60 crores have been spent on various works by the Development Authority under the State Plan. He said an amount of Rs. 33.05 lakhs has been generated as revenue by the Authority since its inception.
The legislators highlighted various issues pertaining to the comprehensive development of the areas under the jurisdiction of SMDA. The Chief Minister gave directions for examining these issues for action.
Omar Abdullah also approved about Rs. 1.30 crores additional grants to SMDA for various works including construction of foot-bridge and flood protection works. He also approved construction of 6 kilometer road stretch by the R&B Jammu in Mansar-Surinsar circuit.
Receiving status of the alternate water supply schemes to save Mansar and Surinsar lakes; the Chief Minister was apprised that PHE Department is executing the two schemes for Mansar and Surinsar which involve Rs. 384.41 lakhs and Rs. 723.59 lakhs respectively. So far, more than Rs. 500 lakhs have been released for these schemes. (KMW News)
