Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 16: The Government is contemplating to formulate a project to raise protection bunds along the Balone Nallah near Lower Gadhigarh in Bhor Camp area as a measure to save the prestigious 600 Kanal Floriculture Garden on one side and the residential/agriculture area on the other side of the flood prone stream.
This was disclosed by the Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla during his tour to the area, today morning.
District Development Commissioner Jammu Sanjeev Verma, ADDC Jammu Rehana Batool, ACD Jammu K. K. Sidha, BDO Satwari Zaffar Altaf besides team of Engineers from Flood Control, R&B, RDD and other senior district administration functionaries were accompanying the Minister.
While inspecting the condition of the Nallah, the Minister asked the concerned departments to formulate a project plan and submit the same to the Government for funding so that the necessary protection work was done to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the local inhabitants – mostly refugees, besides protection to the prestigious 600 kanal garden with rare species of medicinal and ornamental plants.
The Minister also informed that Rs 2 crore have been earmarked to construct approach road to the garden the work on which is in full swing and near completion with only black topping work left.
The Minister said that the upcoming Flower garden in the area would emerge as a main attraction for the tourists visiting Jammu, which he said, was being developed in all respects to make it an independent tourist destination.
Listing the tourism infrastructure and attraction projects completed and under execution in Jammu district, he said the focus of the Government was to develop the area as an independent tourist destination offering a variety of attractions, like Border Tourism, Heritage Tourism, Adventure Tourism and Urban Tourism.
Mr. Bhalla said that Government has formulated a massive development plan for beautification of Jammu city and sought people’s cooperation in taking forward these projects.
Earlier, the Minister launched road widening work at Shanker Colony, Gangyal which would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 12 lakh.
At Government Primary School Shanker Colony Gangyal, the Minister announced 2 additional class rooms besides toilet and boundary wall for the school which would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 lakh.