Doubts in official circles about feasibility of project
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 2: Keeping in view the doubts in the official circles about its feasibility, the Board of Directors (BoD) of Jammu Development Authority (JDA) will take final call on construction of Water Theme Park in Jammu most probably during next week.
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The announcement regarding Water Theme Park in Jammu city was made by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 13, 2023 while presenting Budget for the Financial Year 2023-24 for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the Parliament.
On September 14, 2023, the J&K Government reviewed the modalities for the establishment of Mega Water Theme Park and it was maintained that project would act as a major tourist attraction in Jammu round the year offering entertainment and recreational activities to every age group. It was stated that Water Theme Park proposed to be established along the banks of River Tawi near Sidhra will make a circuit together with Bahu Fort, Maha Maya Temple, Artificial Lake and Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex.
In a meeting held on December 27, 2024, Jammu Development Authority was entrusted with the task of establishing Water Theme Park on 11 acres of prime land along the River Tawi. Moreover, the JDA was advised to use the land as its equity in the project so that it could be a source of regular income for the Authority. Further, the Authority was directed to invite Expression of Interest (EoI) for developing the Water Amusement Park under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
“As Dwara area near Jammu Golf Course, where 11 acres of JDA land is available for the project, doesn’t have proper road connectivity and is situated about four kilometers away from the National Highway there are doubts in the official circles about the feasibility of the project”, official sources in JDA told EXCELSIOR.
“There are apprehensions about project attracting large number of tourists as such it has been decided that matter be placed before the Board of Directors (BoD) of the Jammu Development Authority for taking decision on the project. Most probably the Board of Directors meeting will be convened during next week”, they added.
They again said, “certain officers are of the opinion that any other project can fetch more revenue for the Jammu Development Authority as compared to Water Theme Park. The decision of the Board of Directors will be conveyed to the higher-ups in the administration and thereafter concrete decision will be taken about the execution of project”.
However, people of Jammu want administration to go ahead with the Water Theme Park as it will be a major tourist attraction round the year offering entertainment and recreational activities to every age group.
Generally, the Water Theme Parks have attractions like provision for water rides, wave pool, artificial water landscape, kids pool, swimming area, water museum, central water body besides other amenities like jogging track, sky dining, water volleyball, sunbathing, indoor water sports, live entertainment, landscape zone and kiosks for public.
Apart from these facilities, the Tourism Department can explore other eco-tourism activities as it is in close proximity with the forest area. The eco-friendly hutments and other amenities can also be explored to add to the ambience of the park. Even adjacent forest land could be leased additionally so as to make the project viable for adding new attractions and for creating botanical garden, tree houses etc as permissible under the Master Plan.
As Jammu is the route for millions of pilgrim tourists visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine besides other local tourist destinations, infrastructure like Water Theme Park and upcoming Artificial Lake would go a long way in attracting tourists and extending their stay which will ultimately lead to revenue and employment generation for the locals.
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