*J&K to approach Centre for opening of points
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 23: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said today that if United States and Iran, the two known enemies can unite, why can’t India and Pakistan forge the enmity between them for restoration of peace along the borders so that people can have free inter-action with each and border tourism and trade is promoted between the two nations.
Speaking to reporters during her whirlwind tour of border areas of Suchetgarh and Chamblayal besides several other places of tourist destination and heritage importance in Jammu, Mehbooba called for sending a message of peace from the border areas of Suchetgarh and Chamblayal and not bullets to promote border tourism and maintain peace between India and Pakistan.
“If United States and Iran, which were known foes for years together can strike peace between them, why can’t India and Pakistan forge similar friendship, which would go long way for the help of border people as they will be the major beneficiaries of peace between the two countries as trade will flourish between the two nations on the pattern of Wagah border of Punjab,” she said, adding after US, Iran unity, she sees no reason why India and Pakistan can’t come together to restore stability and begin a new era of peace and prosperity in the region.
Accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, Industries and Commerce Minister Chander Prakash Ganga, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Sham Choudhary Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha member Jugal Kishore Sharma and Minister of State for Education and Culture Priya Sethi besides a host of Government officers, the Chief Minister said entire country and world should know the border areas of Jammu like Suchetgarh and Chamblayal from the tourist point of view and not as the places where only bombs and bullets are fired.
Asserting that a message of peace should go to the entire world from the border belt of Jammu, Mehbooba, who holds charge of the Tourism Department, said it would not only promote border tourism and cross-border trade between India and Pakistan but also lead to peace on the borders and generate employment opportunities for the local youth.
Noting that tourism in the Kashmir valley has been fluctuating as first it had gone considerably down and then former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s efforts gave a boost to it, the Chief Minister, without referring to violent incidents of Handwara and Kupwara, said some “recent unfortunate incidents” have again lead to decline in the tourism but expressed hope that it would pick up once again.
“We have to generate such tourism facilities in Jammu that even if there were some disturbances in Kashmir, the tourists didn’t return or give up their plan to visit but have glimpse of the border and other areas in Jammu,” she said and reiterated her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s vision of making Jammu an “independent tourist destination”.
She also announced that her Government would take all steps to promote tourism in Ladakh region.
Admitting that Jammu lacked in tourism facilities, Mehbooba Mufti said her Government was determined to give boost to it as there were many beautiful places like Mubarak Mandi, Suchetgarh, Chamblayal etc, which have religious significance also and can be centre of peace between India and Pakistan.
Announcing that opening of Suchetgarh International Border for cross-border trade, would be taken up with Centre, she said if both India and Pakistan agreed, then her Government would take initiatives to open the route on the pattern of Wagah. She said possibility of opening Chamblayal route can also be taken up with the Centre.
“If bullets exchanged on the borders can become international news, why can’t the peace between the two nations by promoting tourism can become a big news’ ?”, she asked and batted for opening of Sialkot and Chamblayal border points with Pakistan on the pattern of Wagah border in Punjab to give boost to trade and tourism.
She said local youths would be given employment opportunities in the tourism points.
On her arrival at Octroi Post in Suchetgarh sector, where she visited Zero Line with Pakistan, the BSF presented guard of honour to the Chief Minister. IG BSF DK Upadhyaya briefed the Chief Minister, who visited forward posts of Octroi, Chamblayal Border Out Post and Baba Chamblayal shrine. She had a close look at the border and wrote words of praise for the BSF in the book kept at Octroi Post.
Highlighting the importance of Chamblayal shrine in Ramgarh sector of Samba district, where she also offered obeisance, Mehbooba Mufti said the ‘shaker and sharbat’ (Prasad) of the shrine is taken by even Pakistan for distribution among their people.
However, the Chief Minister made it clear that tourism or trade can’t flourish at any place unless and until the areas have wider road connectivity, power, water and other related facilities. She promised that the Government was committed to provide these facilities to the border spots.
An official handout said:-
During her day-long tour, the Chief Minister, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Kumar Singh, also inspected ongoing works at Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, Maharaja Hari Singh Park, Tawi Barrage and the Jammu Haat.
The Chief Minister, who also holds the charge of the Tourism Department, said Jammu has all the makings of an ideal tourist destination, provided the right strategy is framed to showcase Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex in the City of Temples, Mughal Sarais in Rajouri, Ranjit Sagar Dam in Basohli, border tourism in Suchetgarh and R.S. Pura and nature destinations like Patnitop, Bhaderwah and Warwan valley. “I promise to take tourism to all corners of Jammu, for which a proposal for a separate Tourist Circuit will be shortly finalized,” she stated.
Upon her arrival at Suchetgarh, Mehbooba Mufti walked up to the Zero Line, where she stressed upon landscaping the open spaces by planting wild flowers so the area becomes alluring for the visiting tourists.
Secretary Tourism briefed the Chief Minister about the Swadesh Darshan Project, funded by the Ministry of Tourism, under the Himalayan Circuit for development of Suchetgarh as a border destination. He said former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, during his tour to Suchetgarh on December 18 last year, had incorporated children’s park and musical fountain in the project, for which funds will be sourced from the PM’s Development Package.
The other components of the Rs 5-crore project include restoration of Old Octroi Post, construction of Multipurpose Hall, development of water-body and landscaping of lawns to enhance the ambience of the place.
While inspecting the Tourist Facilitation Centre, the Chief Minister directed Tourism Secretary to give wide publicity to Suchetgarh and other border areas on its web portal so that footprint of tourists increases. To provide better connectivity, she said she will take up with Centre the four-lanning of the R.S. Pura-Suchetgarh Road under CRF, for which a proposal at an estimated cost of Rs.44 crore has been framed.
Mehbooba Mufti later arrived at the shrine of Baba Chamliyal where she was briefed about the facilities being provided to the devotees during the Mela. The high point of the Mela remains the meeting between BSF and the Pakistan Rangers to exchange chadar and shakar as a token of love and respect for Baba Chamliyal by the people living on both sides of the border.
After paying obeisance at the shrine, the Chief Minister went up to the Zero Line. She issued directions for upgrading the langar and also ordered landscaping of the premises to make the shrine attractive for the visiting devotees.
The Tourism Department has spent Rs 1.58 crore for creating resting places, Information Centres, viewing decks, amphi-theatre and lavatories.
The Chief Minister also visited Baba Sidh Gouriya Mandir, near Swankha, where she gave directions for cleaning the pond and landscaping the shrine premises.
Earlier, the Chief Minister began her city tour by visiting Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex. She underlined the need to position Jammu as a major cultural destination by channelising the huge footfall of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims towards the heritage treasure trove in the city.
The Chief Minister, however, noted with displeasure the non-utilization of funds sanctioned for restoration of the complex to its pristine glory.
“Restoration of the structures will take time. We need to explore foreign expertise and funding to revive the heritage structure. Meanwhile, we will landscape the lawns by planting exotic trees and flowers and laying ornamental benches to spruce up the complex precincts,” she said, while passing instructions for rebuilding the coronation place of the Maharaja.
While taking appraisal of the upcoming Maharaja Hari Singh Park, which is part of the Tawi Riverfront Project, the Chief Minister directed the JDA to plant exotic trees to create green spaces in the city. She also suggested replacement of musical fountains by coffee shop-cum-library so that people with literary taste find a somber recreational place for an outing.
The Chief Minister also planted a sapling in the park to kick-start the plantation drive in the park.
Regarding the optimal use of land and resources at Jammu Haat, the Chief Minister said she will soon convene a meeting to discuss the best use of the location, which is ideally-located in the heart of the winter capital. She also hinted at amalgamating the Haat with the Tawi Riverfront Development Project.
While inspecting ongoing work on Tawi Barrage, which is one of the three components of the Artificial Tawi Lake Project, the Chief Minister was informed by I&FC Secretary that 11 gates on Badi Tawi will be completed by May 31, while the remaining 20 gates are slated to be completed by March next year.
The Union Ministry of Water Resources will fund the project at a total cost of Rs.66 crore, which money will be utilized on the construction of the barrage, retention of water and beautification of embankments of the reclaimed land.
Minister for Finance, Labour & Employment, Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu, Minister of State for H&UDD, H&ME and Social Welfare, Asiea Naqash, MP, Jugal Kishore and MLA Jammu East, Rajesh Gupta, besides several senior officers of the concerned departments accompanied the Chief Minister during the tour.
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