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| Govt to table Heritage Bill in next session | | |
Jammu, Mar 25- The state Government is likely to table Heritage Bill during the budget session of the state legislature in July-August. Official sources said that the objective of the Bill was to conserve and develop several heritage sites which could promote heritage tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
A survey has revealed that Jammu and Kashmir has started becoming a major resort for pilgrim tourism. The historic Vaishnov Devi Shrine has been attracting over 70 lakh pilgrims annually. And the pilgrims’ traffic to Vaishnov Devi Shrine has become a backbone of the economy of several lakh families in the state. Not only this the donations and the offerings made by the pilgrims had enabled the Shrine Board to carry in hand measures for the development of Katra and its adjoining areas and in setting a university and a Medical college near Katra.
The sources said that even two-month long annual Amarnath pilgrimage has been attracting over 3.5 lakh pilgrims allowing a chance to porters and poney wallas, besides hoteliers, to earn their livelihood. It is in the light of this development that the State Government plans to develop various ancient shrines and historical forts into heritage sites so that they hold a charm for tourists visiting the state. Under the current program Maharaja's palace at Gulmarg is being taken up for conservation and development as a convention complex. While the Mubarak Mandi in Jammu is under renovation and conservation the development of Aali Masjid and Dara Shikow Hamam in Srinagar has been completed. Work on the conservation and restoration of forts in Poonch, Bhaderwah and Reasi has been taken in hand.
The Government has already merged the Department of Culture with the Department of Tourism so that various cultural programs were organized at these heritage sites for the entertainment of tourists. However, experts are of the opinion that while developing sites in Zanskar, Gurez, Bungus Valley, Basholi-Billawar, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar-Sinthan the Government should develop the road connectivity to these areas. In the absence of good roads and transport facilities tourists may not like to waste time and money on visiting these far-flung areas.
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