SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said the government has earmarked Rs 100 crore to create productive infrastructure in the tourism sector in Shahr-e-Khaas to promote the historic Old City of Srinagar as a religious and heritage tourism destination.
She said the Tourism Department has been tasked to formulate a comprehensive proposal in this regard. “Rs 100 crore out of Rs 80000 crore Prime Minister’s Development Package would be spent exclusively for building tourism infrastructure in Shahr-e-Khaas in tune with its distinct heritage,” the Chief Minister said while interacting with people during her extensive tour of various Old City areas including Makhdoom Sahab, Nowhatta, Rainawari, Kathidarwaza, Chatti Padshahi, Babademb and Khanyar this morning.
The Chief Minister said the tourism promotion programme for Shahr-e-Khaas would include development of recreational facilities like parks, parking areas, heritage sites, guest houses, restaurants, libraries, reading rooms, food streets and interpretation centres to attract tourists to the heart of the city. She said the development of various facilities around revered religious places in the Old City would also constitute a part of the tourism promotion programme.
After paying obeisance at the shrine of Sultan-ul-Aarifeen Sheikh Hamza Makhdoomi (RA), the Chief Minister took stock of the facilities available there for the devotees.
She also took an on-the-spot review of the development works going on in the shrine complex. The Chief Minister offered prayers for the peace and prosperity of the state and interacted with the devotees and the Mujavirs at the shrine.
Expressing dismay over the heaps of garbage being dumped around the shrine, the Chief Minister asked Tourism Department and the Waqf Board to landscape the area on the left side of the entry gate and develop into a park.
She also called for cleaning of the pond inside the shrine premises. She asked the District Administration Srinagar to formulate a plan of action for shifting of illegal settlements from around the Malkhah, which according to the locals have become a hub of anti-social activities.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the lackadaisical approach of the Waqf Board in the proper maintenance of the shrines, the Chief Minister said she would soon convene a meeting of the Board to take a holistic review of its activities.
During her visit to Hari Parbhat Fort built in 1808 under the reign of Shuja Shah Durrani, the Chief Minister called for promoting the area as an individual tourist destination.
Ms Mufti said pitched on a hillock in the middle of the city, the fort gives a birds-eye view of the whole Srinagar city. She called for developing facilities for tourists at the fort including a restaurant and other recreational facilities.
She also called for cleaning of ponds inside the fort and keeping them humming with fresh water. The Chief Minister also visited the temple of Sharika Devi located in the foothills of the fort and inquired about the facilities available there for the devotees. She also visited Gurudwara Chatti Padshahi located in the same area interacted with the devotees there. (AGENCIES)
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