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| Jora to rope in experts for promoting eco-tourism | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, JANUARY 21 – The Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora, today called for promoting ecotourism in the State and asked the authorities to make it the theme of State's sightseeing. He sought cooperation from the people to project J&K as an eco-friendly tourist destination and urged active involvement of expert consultancy firms in the preparation of ecotourism projects. The Minister said this while on a visit to Surinsar, a health resort about 29 kilometres from here. He went around the Surinsar lake and adjoining areas and took stock of the various developmental initiatives underway. The Minister was accompanied by Director, Tourism, Jammu , Mrs. Sarita Chauhan and the Chief Executive officer, Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority, Mr. Soujanya Sharma, besides other officers of the department.
The Minister said tourism sector has to evolve an effective strategy to confront head-on the growing threat from the challenges of climate change and global warming. He also said that mere symbolic gestures won't be enough and workable mechanism has to be put in place to achieve desired results. "Our focus will be to stop selfish human interference into our State's serene environs and for this many ecotourism initiatives to protect fragile areas will be taken up", the Minister said, adding that icons of State's tourism like Dal and Surinsar lakes, fully-perched forests and picnic spots won't be allowed to be ravaged.
Stating that tourism is the confluence of environment, culture and its people, the Minister warned that nobody will be allowed to loot this vast treasure that J&K possesses.
Mr. Jora said that even though tourism continues to be the USP of the State, it has not reached desired levels in ecotourism, which has threatened a number of beauty spots. "We have to create a balance between tourism and environment so that this vital industry becomes sustainable in the long run", Mr. Jora said, adding that heritage hotels are required to be created at potential tourist sites that exhibit our rich cultural treasure.
While being briefed about the various measures being taken for developing the tourism infrastructure at Surinsar, the Minister was informed that Rs. 20 crore are being spent for development of tourist-related infrastructure at Surinsar and Mansar lake. Rs. 3.19 crore have been earmarked for the purpose during the current fiscal year. He laid stress on preparation of a master-plan in consultation with the expert consultants that encompasses all the required infrastructure facilities. The Minister said the development authorities have been created with the objective to create more health spots in the State so that the tourists look beyond traditional tourist places and extend their stay in the State.
While briefing the Minister, the Chief Executive Officer, Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority, Mr. Sharma said that a children’s park, public park and viewpoints are being developed at a cost of Rs. 70 lakh at the site.
The Minister inspected the development park being built and directed the authorities to immediately reshape and replace the viewpoint indicators and dustbins installed. He also called upon the concerned authorities to acquire around 100-metre area in and around the lake for landscaping so as to give it an aesthetic look.
Responding to the demands of the locals who met him, the Minister said that the owners whose land is being acquired for landscaping around the lake would be compensated as per Government norms. He said the matter of permitting locals to for boat floating in the lake would be taken up with Wildlife authorities.
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