Jammu, Dec 22: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Tuesday highlighted the potential of pilgrim tourism of J&K saying that about 80 lakh pilgrims yearly visit Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine alone.
 “If we are able to attract only ten percent of this pilgrim influx to other places in J&K it will give considerable boost to tourism sector”, he added.
 Chairing the meeting of Katra Development Authority (KDA) here, Omar who is also chairman of the KDA said that Katra town requires all the more attention for integrated development for the tremendous pilgrim rush to the area round the year.
 He said efforts should be made to ensure balanced development of the town under the Master Plan making room for its further growth and development on modern lines of urban development, an official statement here said.
 Omar, according to the statement, said the development of Katra should be designed according to futuristic needs of the town. “While creating infrastructure today we should look far ahead of the time”, he said and expressed hope that the Katra Development Authority will keep all aspects into consideration while managing the development and extending facilities to the pilgrims at the town.
 The Deputy Chief Minister,   Tara Chand, who is also Vice Chairman of the KDA in his address called for a holistic approach in the development of Katra. He said the importance of this famous pilgrim town is becoming more and more significant with the increase in the number of pilgrims to the holy shrine. He said we are expecting over one crore pilgrim tourists yearly in near future as such development plan has to be formulated and implemented accordingly. He asked the KDA to carry out works in an integrated manner and as per the set norms of Master Plan. “We have to keep in mind the futuristic needs and plan accordingly”, he added.
 MLA, Reasi,   Baldev Raj Sharma, Chief Secretary,   S. S. Kapur, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister,   Khurshid Ahmed Ganai,  Principal Secretary, PDD,   B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary, PHE,   A. K. Angurana,   Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner/Secretary, Planning,   B. B. Vyas, Commissioner/Secretary, Finance,   Sudanshu Pandey, Commissioner/Secretary, R&B,   Mehboob Iqbal,  Secretary Tourism, Ms. Tanveer Jahan, Secretary Revenue,   Aijaz Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer, Katra Development Authority,   Pandurang K. Pole, various heads of the departments and senior officers were present in the meeting.
 The MLA Reasi put forth the demand for widening of Banganga, Katra-Panthal, Katra-Jammu and other roads in the town.
 The meeting discussed matters regarding the development of Katra as per the Master Plan, development of bus stand, acquisition of land, regularization of building permission by regulatory authority, action taken on various points pertaining to Katra Development, discussed and identified in the last Katra Development Authority meeting jointly chaired by the Governor and The Chief Minister. The Chenab Water Supply proposal for the town was also discussed in the meeting while action taken by Tourism, PDD, PWD, Railways, Forest, Housing, Urban Development, Irrigation, Flood Control and Health Departments on various development issues was also discussed in the meeting.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:30:00 GMT
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