ET Plus Report
Jammu, Aug 1: The nearest picnic resort from Jammu, Jhajjar Kotli is in shambles, courtesy Tourism department, who has abandoned the resort, which has become a safe haven for drunkards, drug-addicts and criminals.
Jhajjar Kotli used to be first preference of people of Jammu who thought of a day off from routine life, but now the families and schools prefer to keep off from this place as department of tourism which is responsible for upkeep and maintenance of such identified tourist spots has conveniently forgotten it, allowing to decay and deteriorate.
A drive of 35 kms from Jammu, on Jammu-Srinagar national highway, Jhajhar Kotli tourist resort, now a picture of ruin has been left to an old building of 'Jharna Cafeteria' with a big lock, broken stairs, dirty park without any washroom and canteen and broken glasses. The road leading to stream, near which people used to spend hours together, is in miserable condition.
Ajay Sharma, 34, a visitor said, "The condition here is really disappointing, I remember when we use to come for picnic with our school, it was so beautiful and well maintained. I have lot of memories of my childhood attached with this place, but today its condition hurts me a lot."
Students of the middle school, Narwal Bala, Jammu, were on picnic with their teachers, despite of the shabby condition, students were enjoying the moment with their friends. "It's really fun to be here with all our classmates, but there is no canteen or cafeteria, no eatables are available," said Rishav Bhan, student of class 7th. Poonam Charak, a teacher, who was accompanying these students, said, "I think it was a bad idea to come to Jhajjar kotli for picnic, this place is no more left for ladies and children, people only come here for drinking alcohol, and there is no arrangement for picnic."The headmaster of the school, said, "Children want to go in water, but we cannot allow them, because some people are washing their vehicles there, some are boozing, we cannot let the children to go to this place." Soujanya Sharma, Director Tourism said, "Jhajjar kotli is in our mind, we are planning to develop it again, but we were waiting for the National highway to make the clear picture of the road, so that we can plan it accordingly, we also had a plan to make an artificial lake, but the Geological Department of India did not find the soil suitable of the lake."
"I am planning to visit the place personally and will see what else can be done there, to develop this nearest picnic spot of Jammu," he added. On the issue of the illegal activities in the Jhajjar kotli, Station House Officer, Jhajar Kotli, Parvez Sajjad said, "We are regularly checking the illegal activities in this area, no policeman is deputed there, but we have regular patrols ." |
