Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 2: Former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today expressed his concern over the incomplete demining process of Tosamaidan, two years after Army vacated it, and said by conducting tourism festival at the picturesque spot, Government is endangering the lives of the people.
Omar said that the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, has expressed concern over the demining process. “Why did you hold the tourism festival then? You are endangering lives of the people,” he said.
The former Chief Minister, who represents Beerwah constituency, asked the Government about its plans to protect Tosamaidan as violations of building laws were rampant in other tourist places like Gulmarg and Pahalgam. “We have seen 40 rooms being constructed when the permission was only granted for only 10 rooms (in Gulmarg and Pahalgam),” he said.
Omar asked the Government about its plans for improving road connectivity to Tosamaidan area. “The Chief Minister went in a helicopter to Tosamaidan which takes only few minutes. For taking tourists to the place, you need to have roads.”
Replying to the question, Education Minister Naeem Akhtar said the Government “will not allow Tosamaidan to be turned into a concrete jungle”. “It will be developed as a biosphere and promoted for ecotourism. No concrete constructions will be allowed but Kothas will be refurbished with facilities for those tourists who want to stay there,” he said.
He said an amount of Rs 73 crore has been earmarked in the Prime Minister’s Development Plan for the State for developing Yusmarg-Doodhpathri-Tosamaidan circuit.
On the demining of the meadows, the minister said Army has informed the Government that 65 square kilometres of Tosamaidan had been demined and the area was safe for any civilian activity.
In his supplementary, the CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami demanded an inquiry into the illegal constructions at various tourist spots of Kashmir.
“An inquiry should be ordered on the encroachments and violation of building permissions at tourist spots. It is a matter of serious concern raised by Omar Abdullah. He is the former Chief Minister of the State,” Tarigami said.
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