Srinagar, Aug 10: The Committee on Environment (EC) of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly headed by its Chairman M.  Y. Tarigami today concluded 3-day extensive tour of various areas of Gurez Sub-Division.
 The Committee with its members Javeed Mustafa Mir and Charanjeet Singh observed that tourism potential of Gurez can be exploited which will boost the economic condition of the people of the Sub-Division and tourism promotion be managed and operated through public participation which will directly benefit the local community.
 On the way to Gurez, the Committee members visited Rajdhan Top and inspected new tourist way-site amenity and was satisfied with the work of tourism department and asked the Director Tourism that locals be encouraged to run these amenities so that they will get directly benefited from the tourism activities in the area.
 The Committee also met a local delegation at Tourist Reception Centre, Gurez to discuss various developmental and tourism related issues.
 The locals briefed the Committee that Yousuf Shah Chack was resident of Dardistan and he married to Habba Khatoon (Zone) of Pampore and they visited the Gurez after their marriage and stayed near a mountain which was named as Habba Khatoon Peak.
 The locals demanded that Gurez should be promoted as an eco-tourism destination and there is a huge scope of adventure tourism in the area. The resident showed utter concern about the road condition which connects Gurez to Bandipora and rest of the state and demanded a tunnel be constructed from Dawar to Gurez which was also pleaded by the local MLA of Gurez.
 The tunnel will act as an alternative route and minimize the human losses due to accidents. The local residents also showed their displeasure about the communication system of the area and during winter months they remained cut-off as no communication facility is available during winter.
 The people appreciated the role of Army as they are the only hope left with the people of the Gurez whenever any problem arises and Army supported them wholeheartedly but stressed that Army frisking be minimized so that the free flow of tourists from different parts of the world coming to the area is ensured.
 The delegation also demanded jobs in Dam projects particularly KGHEP. The Committee sought detailed information from the concerned that how many local residents of Gurez are employed in the project both skilled and unskilled.
 The people requested the Committee to take up the matter of providing Air Service and increasing its frequency with the government so that in case of emergency they must avail facility quickly.
 Director Tourism Kashmir Talat Parvez also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the activities taken by the department for the benefit of local communities of Gurez.
 On the occasion, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Gurez Muhammad Ashraf Hakak also briefed the Committee about the developmental activities of Gurez. Tarigami directed the SDM to ensure adequate facilities of Gas Cylinders to the consumers of Gurez.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 11 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST