Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 17: A grand function was organised at Jio Pota Ghat at the bank of river Chenab in Akhnoor to celebrate 196th Coronation Day of Maharaja Gulab Singh today.
While addressing large gathering, Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Ch Lal Singh said that Government is focusing on developing places of religious and historic importance in Jammu region to promote pilgrim tourism adding that concerted steps are apace to develop requisite tourist infrastructure at these sites
Lal Singh exhorted upon the people to take inspiration from the great people who have left indelible marks in every sphere of activity by dint of their selfless services. He said that glorious heritage of the State stands testimony to the fact that the people lived in a spirit of togetherness and harmony.
The Minister said that efforts are being made to draw pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi shrine to other tourist destinations of the region particularly in Akhnoor town. He informed that Government has spent adequate funds for creating various infrastructure facilities for tourists and pilgrims at Jio Pota, adding that Government intends to promote water-sports tourism on river Chenab in Akhnoor. He said restoration and conservation work of several heritage sites in Akhnoor tehsil including famous Akhnoor Fort, Jio Pota Ghat, Terra Cotta, Buddhist monuments at Ambaran, Pandav cave, Sumah, Jio Pota Library is on.
PDP Member Legislative Council (MLC) and grand son of Maharaja Hari Singh, Vikramaditya Singh while speaking on the occasion said that there is strong need to have right projection of Dogra rulers and their works in the school curriculum in the State.
He said there was strong need to include chapters of Dogra rulers and their works and achievements in the School curriculum in the State. He regretted that wrong projection has been made in this regard in certain books and there is urgent need to have right projection of the Dogra rulers in the curriculum. Singh claimed that he had taken up the matter with the former Education Minister, Naeem Akhtar in this regard as well.
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The PDP MLC while projecting demands of Jammu region said that State Education and School curriculum must include chapters on contributions of each Dogra ruler of Jammu & Kashmir. He said that he had written a letter regarding the same to the then Education Minister in February 2017.
Vikramaditya demanded that the historic resolution recently passed in the Legislative Council regarding State holiday on birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh must be taken forward. The MLC stressed on urgency to address the issue of illegal settlement of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi in Jammu city.
Grandson of Dr Karan Singh (MP, Martand Singh also addressed the gathering and paid tribute to Maharaja Gulab Singh. He also highlighted the issue of restoring the original name of the Akhnoor bridge given by Maharaja Hari Singh, that was rebuilt over the river Chenab in Akhnoor.
The event was also attended by former minister Sham Lal Sharma, MLA Nowshera Ravinder Raina, MLA Akhnoor Rajiv Sharma, J&K Bar Association president BS Slathia, Dogra Sadar Sabha president GS Charak and Maj Gen (Retd) GS Jamwal among several other dignitaries.
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