Excelsior Correspondent
RAMNAGAR, Mar 3: While making a passionate and fervent appeal for better roads and nurturing tourism potential of the far-flung, picturesque areas of Ramnagar & Udhampur, like Dudu, Basantgarh, Garh Samna Bank, Pancheri, Landhar, Mongri, Kud etc, Ranbir Singh Pathania, spokesperson J&K BJP and former MLA called for unfolding of immediate crash measures into the matter.
He was addressing largely attended meetings at Dudu, Basantgarh, Kirchi, Shivgali, Gandhtop, Sarail, Parla Chakal, Siyameri, Kulwanta, Chhatriari, Majori and Balota Upperla.
Pathania said that road from Chenani to Sudh Mahadev has already been declared as National Highway. He called for extending National Highway from Sudh Mahadev upto Latti, Dudu, Basantgarh, Ramnagar and Rown-Domail. This circular road connecting Jammu-Srinagar National Highway with Udhampur-Billawar Dhar road shall not only provide a viable connectivity to more than three lakh population but at the same time will act as lodestar for promoting rich tourism potential of the area.
He further said that since independence people living in this geographically inaccessible, topographically tough and administratively neglected, militancy-hit patch, have been craving for a metalled, all-weather roads. More so given the scenic beauty of Shivgali, Ponara, Seojdhar, sky-rocketing heights of Garh Samna Banj, spruce and fir forests of Tamdyal, Kot so on and so forth, the mesmerizing beauty of the area outmatches the best tourist spots of Kashmir valley.
More so given the devotional significance of Sri Pingla Mata and Sri Chountra Mata shrines, historic glacier of Kailash Kund, Narsingh Temples at Ramnagar and Jansal, Vasuki Nag temples at Dudu and Basantgarh, all-popular shrines of Marhada Mata, Devi Bani, Manwal, historically, religiously significant lakes at Mansar and Surinsar, the ancient Aapshambhu temple at Khoon commemorating times of Pandavas, there is ample scope for promotion of pilgrimage tourism in the area. Moreover this area is a botanist’s paradise with rich vegetation having medicinal/aesthetic/research value.
Pathania called for a Tourism Development Scheme in order to chisel the potential of the area. He called for setting up of a separate Tourism Development Authority at Ramnagar to meet the requirements of nurturing vast and untapped tourism potential of the area. He said that with a strong leadership at command at the Centre, transcending a message of hope and optimism in J&K, Lt. Governor-led dispensation should immediately take crash measures so that people of the area are able to feel the touch of Government.
Pathania also called for release of Bad Pocket Grants for the current financial year as well as clearing liabilities of last year.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
