Rustam
JAMMU, Jan 10: If anybody has visited Kashmir in the 1970's, he/she will at once vouch for the fact that there is hardly any scope for further improvement in places like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Kokernag, Sonamarg and so on. But till date about 75 per cent of the tourism budget is being spent year after year in Kashmir. This happened even when hardly any tourist visited the Kashmir valley. For example, between 1990 and 1996, hardly any tourist visited the Valley, as the secessionist and communal violence then was at its peak and the miniscule minority of Kashmiri Hindus and many Sikhs had migrated from Kashmir to Jammu and other places to save their lives and dignity. Still, approximately 75 per cent of the tourism budget was spent in the Valley, thus completely ignoring Jammu province which is no less beautiful as far as its scenic beauty is concerned. Jammu province has all the potential of being developed as a world class tourist region, but it was not to be. Thanks to the successive Kashmir-dominated and Congress supported Governments in the state.
Although huge funds had been spent in the past and are being spent under tourism head, yet new development authorities have been created at the already highly developed Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Kokernag and Sonamarg. Only the concerned authorities know where the money went and where it is going.
More than 10 million pilgrims are visiting Mata Vaishnodeviji Shrine every year but, sadly, even Katra town has not been taken up as a Model Town under tourism. Of course, the Congress-NC coalition Government has for name sake created a new development authority in Jammu regions also, but these authorities will remain only on paper because the master plan of these projects will never be finalized by the biased Government. Similarly, Patni Top Development Authority is functional for many years but there is always paucity of funds for development of area.
After 1947, people used to love to move on bund on river Jhelum but over the period it was allowed to be encroached. Now the Government is spending huge amount on the beautification of river Jhelum. On the other hand, in Jammu, the River Tawi is being used as garbage dump and all municipal drainage is also coming into this river. If corrective and effective steps are not taken at the earliest to check the pollution of River Tawi, then -- apart from deteriorating environment -- there can be chances of ground water being polluted to a large extent.
Besides, many agencies like JDA, Parks and Garden, Municipality, Tourism and Forests are making plans to improve River Tawi and its surroundings. But there is no authority to coordinate how to make a comprehensive plan. Will the authorities take steps forthwith to stem the rot or sort out this mess?
In order to disperse tourists visiting Mata Vaishnodevi Holy Shrine to different sites of Jammu region projects like improvement of Ranbir Canal from Akhnoor to Jammu by way of creating gardens on both sides of the canal. All forts in Jammu province needed to be declared as heritage sites, as they constitute an important part of the rich heritage of the Dogras. Project of village Bhaiya and Satoora (Tehsil Hiranagar, District Kathua) should also be taken up as heritage sites as it is also being investigated by Archeological Department of India. Similarly, circuits like Chenani, Sudh Maha Dev, Mantalai, Latti-Dhuna and Dudu and also from Ramnagar to Majori and Basantgarh and circuits like Lakhanpur, Basholi, Bani, Badnota, Dhaggar, Machedi, Sukrala Mata and Billawar should be developed. Not just this, tourist projects in Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Kishtwar and Doda should also be taken up, as these areas are very beautiful.
But the question is: Will the biased authorities develop tourism in Jammu province? The answer is not in the affirmative. If the people of Jammu province want their region to be fully developed, they have no other option but to seek reorganization of the state polity on a regional basis. |
