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| Is it penny for tourism development in Jammu and a pound for Kashmir? | | Behind the veil | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 2 : "A Penny for Jammu and a pound for Kashmir valley as far as development of infrastructure in the sector of tourism is concerned." This is a common refrain among people and political leaders belonging to the Jammu region. The latest Government report indicates that under the Prime Minister's Reconstruction programme Rs. 7.99 crores were being spent on the Lakhanpur-Bani-Basholi-Sarthal tourist circuit. So far the centre has released Rs. 6.39 crores and the main thrust is to develop the road and construct some tourist bunglows where visitors could stay during their visit to some of the farflung areas in the Jammu region.
Experts are of the opinion that during the last over 30 years more than 90 per cent funds, under the state and the central sector, have been spent on the development and conservation of lakes, tourist resorts etc. in the Kashmir valley and not more than 10 per cent funds have been utilised on the development of the tourism infrastructure in the Jammu region. In support of their contention they refer to the massive funding by the centre and the state Government for the development and conservation of the Dal Lake in Srinagar. Against this it has been a tale of starving lake development in the Jammu region, including Mansar and Surinsar, because of poor allocation of funds.
When the question regarding development of tourist circuits in various areas of the Jammu region, particularly in the areas of Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, Kishtwar and Doda districts was raised in the Assembly on Friday the Government dished out incomplete information and assured those members who had raised the issue that plans were under progress for development of infrastructure in the tourism sector. In this connection it was revealed that the development of Mantalai tourist resort has been entrusted to the Patnitop Development Authority.
Political leaders and academicians want the Government to issue a white paper on the allocation of funds for the development of lakes in the Kashmir valley and the one in the Jammu region during the last two decades. The leaders say that if the white paper was released it would give a lie to the Government claim that it was for equal distribution of development funds.
They also want the Government to issue a statement on the fate of 50 hamlets which were to be developed into tourist villages in the state. The demand is the result of their fears that bulk of funds, earmarked for the project, had been misappropriated. Experts are of the opinion that if the Government develops tourist resorts in the Jammu region, especially in Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Bani, Basholi, Udhampur and Ramnagar belt some private and Government agencies could encourage pilgrims to Mata Vaishnov Devi shrine to visit these resorts. They said that so far except for luring them to visit Patnitop the Government had nothing to show, in terms of resorts to the visitors. According to these experts, if even 20 per cent of the 60 lakh pilgrims, who visit the shrine round the year, are encouraged to visit some tourist resorts in Jammu region it could generate added revenue for not only the Government but also for traders, transporters and hoteliers.
These experts said in view of the continued fluid security and political situation in the Kashmir valley it was necessary for the Government to develop the tourist infrastructure in the Jammu region so that excursionists, who failed to make it to the valley, spent some days on visiting various resorts in the Jammu region. They said the plan of the Government to develop other tourist resorts in Kupwara, Baramullah, Anantnag, Bandipore and Budgam in the Kashmir valley has not made much headway during the last 10 years with the result the Department of tourism has to showcase the traditional resorts of Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Kokernag, Sonamarg and couple of more to the tourists when the valley could develop atleast 12 more fascinating resorts. |
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