Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 29: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday during her maiden visit to Tosamaidan - a sprawling meadow in the mountains of Central Kashmir's Budgam - asked the local populace to "take care of the environmentally fragile tourist resort".
Mufti addressed locals of the adjacent villages who had arrived at the spot to celebrate the three day festival which asked today. "Tosmaidan is yours," she told the local populace, "so take care of it."
Mufti asserted that she "was not in favour" of concrete buildings, hence, "government will help the locals to improvise 50 dhokas into huts habitable for tourists".
Mufti asked officials to create a "unique identity" of Tosmaidan. "Unlike Gulmarg and Sonamarg, Tosmaidan should have its own and a unique identity which should attract tourists," she said.
Acknowledging that her predecessor, Omar Abdullah led government played its role in not extending the lease to army, Ms Mufti, however, has tough road ahead viz-a-viz army's demand of Bajpathri as alternate site to continue its drills.
Tosmaidan was used by army for firing and shelling exercises up to summer of 2013. The meadow was leased out to army in in early 1960s which expired in July 2014. After continuous campaigns by locals, civil society groups and politicians across the ideological divide, the J&K government did not extend the lease. However, army has asked J&K Government to allot another tourist rich destination, Bajpathri, for continuing its exercise. They are fighting a case in National Green Tribunal for it, as well. |
