Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, Feb 16: Shiv Sena, Shinde Zonal president Tilak Raj Shan today urged the Government to take effective steps in promoting tourism in erstwhile Doda district which has a lot of potential for the same.
Addressing a joining programme organised by the party today he said erstwhile Doda district has lot of potential for tourism promotion but no specific attention was given to same by earlier Kashmir centric Governments who ignored and neglected this area altogether that has resulted in backwardness and poverty of the people.
Shan said the nature has bestowed scenic beauty to the erstwhile Doda district with lush green forests, meadows, lakes, springs, rivers and streams. The district is also famous for pilgrimage and eco tourism, hiking etc and it needs to be promoted to boost the economy of the area and also create opportunities for employment generation.
He said the present Government though has started taking initiative in this regard with administration providing attention for promotion of tourism in respective districts of Doda region but more needs to be done by exploiting the natural tourist places of the region to tourism promotion.
He said moreover the attention needs to be paid in starting work on other power projects in the region as rivers of erstwhile Doda district has a potential of generating about 10,000 mw of power which the UT can sell to the other states to boost the economy.
He also urged the Government to issue directives to concerned management of under construction power projects to implement the Relief and Rehabilitation plan for the affected people.