Srinagar, Apr 22: Pinning hope that tourism in Jammu and Kashmir would regain its prime glory and state would become choicest tourist destination at global level once again, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Friday drew attention of general public and government functionaries towards their joint responsibilities to take up this task as a mission.
“Jammu and Kashmir has been a tourist State since ages and the Valley received the name of “Heaven on Earth” for its unparalleled and enchanting natural beauty. Unnecessary human interference in the natural landscaping has badly told upon the beauty of tourist areas and the ecology”, he said adding that the long period of militancy has added salt to the injury giving a big jolt to the tourism sector.
Chairing separate meetings of Gulmarg and Pahalgam Development Authorities at Gulmarg and Pahalgam today, the Chief Minister highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach by all the stake holders in the sector to complement each other’s efforts in bringing back tourism on rails.
Underlined the importance of tourism in the State’s economy, the Chief Minister said that preservation and conservation of tourist areas are imperative to maintain the beauty and significance of tourist resorts to keep their attraction live.
 “The Authorities constituted for balanced development of tourist areas and preserving the ecology and natural phenomenon, have tremendous responsibility of rendering stupendous service for the purpose”, he said and told the Gulmarg and Pahalgam Development Authorities to amply demonstrate their position as custodians of these two most important tourist resorts by their acts on ground.
The Chief Minister said that development of tourism with twin objectives of economic welfare and conservation of the State’s eco-balance has been flagged focused area by the Government. “Our endeavour at one hand is to enhance tourism related activities and provide employment opportunities to a greater chunk of youth and on the other to maintain and preserve the natural beauty of tourist places so that people from all across would love to visit here again and again”, he asserted.
The Chief Executive Officers in the separate PowerPoint presentations gave resume of the achievements registered during the last year and the schemes in pipeline for futuristic planning and development of the two health resorts.
The CEO, Gulmarg, Mehmood Ahmad stated that the Gulmarg Development Authority has spend over Rs. 4.35 crores on various infrastructure development and beautification schemes in the area during the last year while an amount of Rs. 5 crores was adopted in the meeting for 2011-12 for the purpose.           
The Chief Minister approved Rs. 1 crore for the upgradation and improvement of Tangmarg-Gulmarg road. He also approved improvement of Baba Reshi-Gulmarg road and directed for improvement and addition to the sanitation facilities at the health resort. He approved Rs. 50 lakh for the Gulmarg water supple scheme.           
Omar Abdullah also directed for digital GIS mapping of Gulmarg health resort and establishment of Automated Weather Station.
The CEO, Gulmarg explained the status of Golf Course and said that it would be completed during the current year. Mehmood Ahmad also gave details of the implementation of decisions taken in the earlier meetings and gave details of the agenda items seeking the approval for the new works and plans.          
The Chief Minster at Pahalgam received the brief about the last year’s achievements and the programmes for the year 2011-12. The Chief Minister approved Rs 3 crores for sanitation work at Pahalgam and Rs 2 crore for upgradation of Galf course. He also sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for beautification works and 23 lakh for incilators and garbage disposal.          
In a PowerPoint presentation the CEO, Pahalgam, Altaf Ahmad explained the salient features of the activities of the authority and said that over Rs. 5.50 crore have been spent on various infrastructure development works in Pahalgam during the last year. He listed the programmes earmarked for the year 2011-12. The meeting adopted Rs. 6.33 crore for these works for the current financial year.          
Altaf Ahmad said that upgradation of Golf Course, development of Betab Valley, development of Sekipathri and various sanitation works under PMRP are in progress. He said Rs. 10.9 crores have been spent on these works so far.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST