NEW DELHI, June 6: The year 2012 was the best in Jammu and Kashmir during the past 25 years in terms of all parameters–record number of tourists and pilgrim rush to Amarnath and Mata Vaishnodevi because of vastly improved security situation in the state, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said.
A total of 12,36,941 tourists visited the state in 2012 as compared to 8,98,558 during 2011.
“As many as 6,21,104 pilgrims visited Amarnath cave in Kashmir valley and 1,01,38,256 went to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu region,” Mr Abdullah said here yesterday at the Chief Ministers’ Conference on Internal Security.
Also, 179 schools, 37 hospitals, 33 hotels, 919 private buildings, 264 government buildings and 27 industrial and other establishments had been vacated so far by security forces and restored for their original use.
Since 2009 till date 54 static bunkers had been removed from private places in Srinagar city.
Security force personnel, deployed from outside the state for fighting militancy, had been stationed in schools and government establishments.
“As the security situation is continuously improving, concerted efforts are being made to reduce the footprints of security forces from the inhabited areas and also to vacate the government and private buildings occupied by the security and para-military forces,” the Chief Minister said.
He said terrorist incidents had decreased by 35 per cent in 2012 as compared to 2011 and a significant decline in all types of causalities was registered during the year while 2013 continued to show improvement in the security and law and order situation.
(AGENCIES)
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