Lack of coordination impedes promotion of ‘Mini-Kashmir’
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 21: Making mockery of its own announcements, the PDP-BJP Coalition Government has failed to initiate any major step for start of much-talked about helicopter service to Bhaderwah and make available Rs 50 crore for various tourism projects in the area, which otherwise is considered as ‘Mini-Kashmir’. Moreover, the decision taken by the former Chief Minister about attracting private players for creation of high-end tourism infrastructure has yet not been honoured by the concerned authorities.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that while chairing Board of Directors meeting of Bhaderwah Development Authority in the month of October 2015, the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had stated that concerted efforts will be made to increase tourist footfall in the area and packaging it as an independent leisure destination.
Exhorting officers to bring Bhaderwah on larger tourism canvas, Mufti Sayeed had issued directions for initiating steps to ensure participation of private players in creation of high-end tourism infrastructure. “The Public Private Partnership in the tourism sector will not only spur investment but also sustain local economy by creating job opportunities”, he had further stated.
To showcase Bhaderwah, Jai, Padri, Seoj and Kailash Kund as one circuit destination, the then Chief Minister had directed the Tourism Department to convene travel trade conferences at Bhaderwah so as to increase tourist footfall.
However, despite lapse of two and half years neither any step has been initiated to attract private players for creation of tourism infrastructure at Bhaderwah nor any major travel trade conference has been convened by the Tourism Department thereby making mockery of the announcements/directives of the former Chief Minister, sources regretted.
The non-serious approach towards encouraging Public Private Partnership is notwithstanding the fact that it was stated in the official events of the Tourism Department and Bhaderwah Development Authority a number of times that Government was mulling to rope in private players to strengthen hospitality sector and tap huge potential of Chenab region, they further said.
Similar is the fate of the announcement regarding start of chopper service to Bhaderwah to promote this mountainous resort. This announcement was made by Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi in the month of September last year while inaugurating tourism-cum-cultural festival in the area.
Stating that Bhaderwah will soon be provided air connectivity on the pattern of other districts as the Union Aviation Ministry was providing attractive incentives for regional air connectivity all over India, the MoS Tourism had asked the district administration to submit a comprehensive plan envisaging the requirements for starting the service.
“Neither Doda district administration has initiated any step to get comprehensive plan prepared as per the directions of MoS Tourism nor Bhaderwah Development Authority or the Tourism Department vigorously pursued the matter with the higher authorities particularly the Tourism Minister”, sources regretted, adding “similarly no steps were initiated to conduct winter carnival at Bhaderwah on the pattern of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Patnitop to promote it as a major tourist destination of the State”.
Even an amount of Rs 50 crore has not been released for various tourism projects to develop Bhaderwah circuit despite the fact that announcement in this regard was made by the MoS Tourism in September last year. “The fate of all these announcements is hanging in balance despite Government officially admitting that mesmerizing beauty of Bhaderwah is comparable with that of Pahalgam and Gulmarg”, sources regretted.
When contacted, Chief Executive Officer of Bhaderwah Development Authority expressed ignorance about any step initiated for start of helicopter service. “I had only heard about this but no official meeting on the subject has been convened till date”, he added.
He also admitted that no infrastructure has been taken up under Public Private Partnership. “Earlier Bhaderwah Development Authority’s Annual Budget was Rs 1.10 crore and this time the same has been increased to Rs 1.65 crore”, he said.
This has clearly established that announcement regarding Rs 50 crore has remained confined to the official statements, sources said.
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