*Delay in Gandola, poor JKTDC infra to be discussed
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 12: Concerned over utter neglect of one of the major tourist resorts of Jammu region during the past some years, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is likely to announce slew of measures for tourism promotion at Patnitop during the meeting of Patnitop Development Authority Board scheduled to be held on June 14 (Sunday).
The important issues which will come up for discussion during the Board meeting include inordinate delay in start of work on aerial ropeway, pitiable condition of infrastructure of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation at Patnitop, Sanasar and Kud and encroachments by hoteliers.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that last meeting of the Patnitop Development Authority was convened on November 18, 2013 by the then Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and thereafter no focus was ever laid by the senior authorities of the Tourism Department on initiating measures aimed at giving necessary fillip to the tourism promotion activities in this picturesque hill resort.
Despite being aware of the fact that visit of tourists at this picturesque hill resort would receive jolt following opening of Chenani-Nashri tunnel, those at the helm of affairs in the Tourism Department never tried to prepare a comprehensive plan for further promotion of tourism, sources regretted.
The Board meeting was delayed despite the fact that the same provides a platform for resolution of issues on the spot because of being attended by the Administrative Secretaries of various important departments and elected representatives of the people. In the absence of required focus from the top, the amenities for the tourists continued to deteriorate either due to lack of funds or for want of proper coordination between the concerned departments. Moreover, there was no proper follow-up on the decisions taken in the previous Board meetings.
Now the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has fixed the meeting of the Patnitop Development Authority Board on June 14 (Sunday) to take comprehensive review of the present infrastructure and steps required to be initiated for tourism promotion in this one of the major tourist attraction spot of Jammu region, sources informed.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh would also participate in the meeting and ensure that adequate steps are taken for tourism promotion.
In the morning, the Chief Minister will convene Board meeting of Patnitop Development Authority and then hold review meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) at Sanasar. The review of the JKTDC is imperative as assets of Corporation in Kud are in shambles, sources said while disclosing that 30-room building of JKTDC at Kud is not being preferred by the tourists because of lack of focus on its proper upkeep. Moreover, revamping of JKTDC infrastructure at Patnitop and Sanasar would also come up for discussion.
Stating that Chief Minister is likely to announce slew of measures for tourism promotion at Patnitop, sources said that inordinate delay in start of work on Gandola would be the major point of discussion as this project was announced by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed during his earlier stint as Chief Minister in the year 2004.
Despite clearances from all the concerned authorities, the work on the project could not be started till date as a result of which its cost has escalated by almost 100%, sources said, adding on one side the company entrusted the project is delaying submission of revised cost and on the other side Forest Department is awaiting more than Rs 25 lakh before giving permission to axe the trees, which will come up in the alignment of the ropeway.
“Chief Minister is likely to fix deadline for the start of work on the ropeway as the project would be the major source of attracting tourists even after by-passing of Patnitop following opening of Chenani-Nashri tunnel”, sources said.
They informed that Mufti Sayeed would also visit Mantalai, which is being developed as International Yoga Centre. Though Rs 5 crore were allotted for starting construction of accommodation and also facelift of the available infrastructure but on ground nothing is visible till date, sources said.
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