Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: Representatives of various trade organizations related with tourism and pilgrimage, in a three-hour long interactive session with Member of Parliament from Jammu-Poonch constituency, Madan Lal Sharma, apprised him about the problems faced by the tourism industry, here today.
President, All Jammu hotels and Lodges Association, Inderjeet Khajuria rued that the scheduled and unscheduled power cuts in the area create hassle between Hotel Management and the visitors when they undergo trauma of prolonged power cuts at night and demand refund of rent. He demanded that a separate circuit with power grid be created in these areas to ensure 24-hour power supply.
Chairman, Border Tourism Promotion Committee, Rajesh Sharma, complained that prolonged power cuts have also badly affected the water supply in the hotels and lodges, which in turn is adversely affecting the tourism and pilgrimage.
The representatives of the organizations complained that the authorities particularly the Traffic Police is throwing the cold water on their hopes to earn few buck during Amarnath Yatra by diverting all vehicles carrying pilgrims to Shri Amarnath Shrine via Jammu by-pass.
The MP’s attention was also drawn towards horrible condition of road and lanes in the city due to laying of sewerage pipeline by NBPC under ERA. They demanded that the work be expedited or postponed during rainy season, when it causes much chaos.
They also complained about the slow process of work on tourism related projects in Jammu including laying of artificial lake in river Tawi, Tawi Park, Mubarak Mandi Heritage complex, etc besides development of historical Jio Pota site and Ambaran Buddhist site in Akhnoor.
The MP assured them that their issues will be put forth in front of the CM for redressal and sanctioned construction of four toilet complexes at various places in the city.