Tourism in the State

Sir,

Nature has bestowed upon the State valuable resources. The reason it is called Paradise on the Earth. Mughal Emperor Jahangir vexed eloquent when he saw the beautiful natural charms of the State. Outcame his famous line ''Agar Firdous Bar Rooya Zameen Ast, Hami Asto, hami Asto Hami Ast''. Its beauty has no parallel and that is why the land has remained abode of sufis and saints. The riches of its cultural heritage is never dying. The kind of hospitality among the people is rich in spirit and belief.

The picturesque view of forests wealth is an attraction worldwide. Vast green meadows, crystal clear waters are a sure treatment for many a skin disease. Health resorts of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Patnitop etc. attract tourists in flocks from all corners of the world Skating at Gulmarg and Gandola ride are a new experience for the visitor. Boating in Dal Lake and wullar Lake is a life time experience. Patnitop attracts a horde of local tourists when the Jammu region is searing in schorching heat. Similarly Mansar, Surinsar too have a Unique natural beauty of their own. Efforts have to be made to make tourism a livable philosophy in the State. It has a huge potential in the State with such great number of scenic spots we have to develop them in a way so that they become a must visit in their minds. The State has a great potential of pilgrim tourism which can be tapped and diverted to other areas so that large number of visitors visit these areas. Tourism can rid the State of unemployment and backwardness. The only thing is that we make optimum utilisation of our resources.

Yours etc...
S N Raina
Swarn Vihar
Jammu

Leopard scare

Sir,

Man animal conflict has reached to a new level in the State. Last year there was a full blown view of this problem. Man-animal conflict is not an intellectual pursuit of some people who score debating points in an airconditioned drawing room. Man animal conflict has taken the lives of many people in the State. Scores have died. Some animals too have been brutally killed in this conflict.

A news report was published in this paper (Jan 21) which carried the news of there full grown leopards who have created a reign of terror in the areas around Dharhel in Rajouri. The presence of leopards in the jungles of Rajouri is first of all a very goodnews because when wild life especially big cats are being poached it means that there is presence of big cats like leopards etc. The second important point is that why do they intrude into human habitations. Here, man is squarely responsible. We have encroached upon the area where wildlife lived. We have destroyed their forests and we have destroyed their natural habitat. For a wild animal like Leopards which falls in the category of big cats there is a well defined food pyramid. The crux of the matter is that man had disturbed his food chain. The wild life on which he subsists has gone away. What can we expect from a big cat when we have usurped his home and his food chain. He will naturally attack humans habitations where he can feed on domestic cattle or in rare cases on humans. The solution to his problem is not to kill them but to restore the balance of food and forests in his favour. This is a leopard's due right. Man animal conflict can be resolved only after we developed our forests in a humance, practical and scientific way.

Yours etc...
Mohd Abass
Rajouri
Jammu