 Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 19: Tourism promotion efforts in Jammu region got yet another jolt on Monday when a Travellers Mart constructed at Lakhanpur, was converted into the office of District Development Council (DDC) Kathua.
According to sources, the construction of the Travellers Mart at Lakhanpur was started when the National Conference and Congress were in power in the erstwhile State.
In March 2013, the then Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir had informed the Legislative assembly that the construction of Travellers Mart at Lakhanpur is in full swing and once completed, it would give a big boost to tourism activities in the region.
The Rs. 49 Crore-project in Lakhanpur was supposed to be home to tourist facilities including an Art Gallery, Restaurant, Kitchen block, Tourist Office with Staff room and Information office, Mir had told the Assembly.
The government had claimed that it would give major boost to the tourism potential of the district Kathua and project came under Lakhanpur-Sarthal Development Authority.
However on Monday, this building of Travellers Mart was turned into the office of DDC Kathua and the supposed infrastructure such as accommodation to house Art gallery, Tourist Office, Staff Rooms, Information office have been converted into offices. “One room is converted into the office of Chairman of DDC Kathua, while another room is the office of Vice-Chairman of DDC Kathua”, sources said, adding that however over the issue of getting a less spacious room for their respective offices, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman had some verbal arguments in full media glare.
Sources further said that the building of Travellers Mart was lying abandoned for the past few years due to reasons best known to the authorities. “One thing is very clear that the tourism promotion of Jammu based tourism destinations is still a least priority of the concerned departments”, sources said.
The Director Tourism Jammu Dr. N J Chowdhary didn’t pick up his phone for comments despite repeated calls.
Chief Executive Officer Lakhanpur Sarthal Development Authority DC Bhatti was not available for comments.
Sources further informed that due to the abolition of erstwhile Lakhanpur toll post, many government buildings were vacant in the Lakhanpur but rather than making one of such building as their office, the DDC got the building meant for Tourism promotion of district Kathua. “One one hand these DDC members are meant to make plans for the development of their constituencies and to participate in planning but the same DDC has failed to analyse that the same building was meant for an important objective of tourism promotion of the area but same has been brushed under carpet”, sources said.
Sources further said that the office of DDC was made in the building, which falls just 200 metres from the spot, where all visitors are medically examined at Lakhanpur. “On the instructions of administration, all the stalls within the 500 metres radius of the containment zone Lakhnapur have been removed but the DDC office has been opened just within the range of 200 metres”, an official said, adding that people who visit the DDC office can easily fall prey to Covid.
People present at the inaugural function of the office also questioned the rationale behind opening the office after the toll plaza. “People will have to pay toll tax @ Rs 90 for cars, to reach the DDC office. Isn’t it strange that the poor people will have to pay to toll tax to voice their grievances,” they said. |
