Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: The Central and State Governments have launched a number of road, bridge and tourism projects besides upgrading basic amenities in far flung and hilly areas of the State.
This was stated by the Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma in a meeting with concerned departments to review the development works held at Sumah, Akhnoor, here today.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that development of Sumah, Akhnoor is being done with a cost of Rs.4.71 crore under a Centrally sponsored project. ‘Sumah is an ancient holy place which is thronged by a large number of devotees on various religious occasions and its development will greatly facilitate the visitors besides boosting it into an attractive tourist destination”, he added. The various components of the project included construction of double storey dormitory, hut, development of old spring, construction of bathing ghat, development of park, construction of tiled path for walkway, construction of food bridge, guest house, water body and approach road among other allied works.
Mr. Sham said that development of Akhnoor town and periphery ares are receiving priority attention under various schemes of R&B, PHE, health, education, irrigation and tourism. He said a comprehensive plan for channelizing river Chenab and development to Sumah as a tourist hub under tourism sector is under active consideration of the Government.
Mr. Sham said that all the regions of the state have their own distinct identity and cultural heritage, which is being protected and showcased as heritage tourism. He said J&K is known for its scenic splendour across the globe and maintained that there are lot of unexplored beautiful areas which needs to be projected at the national and international level for attraction of tourists and pilgrims.
Mr. Sharma asked the Director Tourism to prepare proposals for developing the potential tourist places like Sumah so the tourists and pilgrims of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and Shiv Khori could be diverted to such destinations also. He also asked the Director Floriculture to develop the surrounding areas of ancient Shri Raghunath Ji Temple near Sumah.
Among others, Director Floriculture, K. K. Sharma, Director Tourism, R. S. Mehta, Executive Engineer of concerned department, SDM Akhnoor, Tehsildar Akhnoor, local Sapanchs, panchs and prominent citizens were also present on the occasion.
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