Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 22: Tulips are set to bloom at the tourist resort of Pahalgam even as the mini zoo there is also being expanded and the Institute of Hotel Management is setting up a branch there as well.
This was decided in a meeting of Pahalgam Development Authority held with Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti in chair.
The meeting was informed that the Department of Floriculture has started raising Tulip bulbs on experimental basis at the world famous resort which hopefully are expected to bloom in coming days. Also a rose garden with around 200 varieties has come up in the bowl and is expected to fully bloom this year, adding to the charm of the place. Another park at Yanner, spread over 60 kanals of land, is being developed for which the necessary papers have been sent to the concerned departments.
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In order to provide an added attraction to nature lovers at the famed tourist destination, the Chief Minister directed expansion of the mini zoo at Pahalgam by the Wildlife Department for which funds have been earmarked under CAMPA. She also directed setting up a camp office of the Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Srinagar at Pahalgam to put the place in the institutional portfolio.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister directed strict compliance of Pahalgam Master Plan and ensure that no violation takes place. She also directed taking strict action against the persons found involved in land encroachment and if need be lodging FIRs against the land grabbers.
Mehbooba Mufti directed pacing up of the process of setting up a new hospital, TRC and underground cabling at the tourist resort. She was informed that land has been identified at Lidroo village of Langanbal for setting up of a new hospital for Pahalgam and it is being processed accordingly.
She also directed that the Golf Course be maintained as per the highest professional standards and get the requisite machinery for the purpose. She also directed immediate restoration of 85 catch basins at the Golf Course.
The Chief Minister also directed the Wildlife and Forest Departments to streamline and simplify the permission for reconstructions within their limits in respect of people living originally there. She also directed undertaking soil erosion works and macadamization of roads and lanes in the town besides installation and operationalisation of high mast and street lights at prominent places in the tourist resort.
Mehbooba Mufti directed the Tourism Department to roll out a yearlong calendar of activities at the resort and plan winter activities before hand and hold a snow festival there at a much larger scale.
The meeting was also informed about the progress on setting up of an STP, completion of work at shopping complexes at Pahalgam and Aishmuqam and other issues.
Minister of State for Tourism, Priya Sethi; MLA, Pahalgam, Altaf Kaloo; Vice-Chairman, JKTDC, Rafi Ahmad Mir; Commissioner-Secretary, Finance, Navin Choudhary; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Secretary, Tourism, Farooq Ahmad Shah; Secretary, Planning, Saleem Shishgar; heads of several departments, CEO, PDA, M. A. Simnani and other officers attended the meeting.
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