Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: Minister for Public Enterprises, Haj and Auqaf and Floriculture Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed alongwith Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla today visited Bhour Camp recreational garden and Bagh-e-Bahu to review the pace of progress on various development works and facilities being provided by the Floriculture Department to tourists at both the spots.
Director Flouriculture K K Sharma besides other senior officers of Floriculture, Roads and Buildings, Flood and Control, Public Health Engineering and Power Development Departments accompanied the Ministers.
Interacting with the locals, Mr. Sayeed said that Government is making all out efforts to develop both the recreational gardens with all facilities like illumination, landscaping, toilet block, parking, mali huts, entry gate plaza, children corners, irrigation, drinking water, walkways.
The Minister asked the Director Floriculture to plant variety of flower species and medicinal plants in the gardens. He issued instructions to him for personally monitor the development as well as recreational facilities in the recreational gardens. He went around the gardens and asked for expediting the work on channel fencing and landscaping, besides development of nurseries for flowers and medicinal plants in both the places.
Responding to the locals demand, Mr. Sayeed said Government has earmarked Rs. 10.22 crore for development and extension of Bagh-e-Bahu recreational garden in 35 kanals available site. He asked the executing agency to speed up the allied works like creation of landscaping, illumination, musical fountain, walkway, irrigation beside construction of gate plaza facilities there for the convenience of lakhs visited the spots every year from across the country.
Regarding 5-D theatre facilities at par with fun city recreational garden at Chandigarh, the Minister asked the Director Floriculture to prepare the project and submit the same for funding so that the facility could be provided to the city of temple people as well as tourists and pilgrims visited across the country there. He issued instructions to provide six boats in developed pond in the garden so that the children as well as adults could enjoy their spare time in available boats. He said Government is making all out efforts to increase all infrastructural facilities in tourist spots so that the visitors could enjoy the places without any problems.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla asked for exploring the possibilities of construction of auditorium, cafeteria and other facilities in both the spots. He said Government has earmarked Rs. 3.80 crore for construction of 990 meter long Balol nallah embankments near Bhour Camp recreational garden. He said the project is under execution on war-footing by Flood Control Department and would be completed within stipulated time frame.
Mr. Bhalla asked the concerned to immediately fence the demarcated garden area and grow all seasonal plants in a systematic manner in the garden so that the visitors could enjoy the place. He hoped that the place would become a source of major attraction for the tourists and help in diverting those visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji and other tourist as well as religious places.
Mr. Bhalla further said the Government has earmarked Rs. 75 lakh for construction of darshani deodi, views points and development of open spaces along the link road to Bawe-Wali Mata in providing seating, illumination, landscaping and drinking water facilities. He said Government has also sanctioned Rs. 1 crore for road widening of Harki Poodi-Bahu Fort approach road besides construction of viewpoints with illumination facilities.
He said that Government has earmarked Rs. 47 crore for construction of cable car project from Bagh-e-Bahu to Mubarak Mandi, adding that the project would be started soon after completing tendering formalities.
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