Poonch/Jammu,December 01 (Scoop News) – The State Government has submitted a project plan of Rs 15. 15 crore to Centre for the development of potential tourist destinations across the border district Poonch, which also envisages conservation and restoration plan for the historical Poonch Fort.
This was stated by the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora, while reviewing the physical and financial achievements of Poonch Development Authority, here today.
Giving details of the project plan, the Minister said that more infrastructure would be created at the potential tourist and historical spots to attract tourists to these places. He said a detailed project report of Rs. 15.15 crore has been sent to centre for approval, which includes the conservation and restoration plan for historical Poonch Fort at a cost of Rs. 7.97 crore. He said under the project Rs. 7.18 crore would be incurred on construction of three tourist arrival centres 2 in Poonch and Mandi, besides development of park ar Chakan-da-Bagh. He said creation of these facilities would facilitate more arrivals of pilgrim tourists to local shrines like Ziarat Sain Miran Sahib, Gurudwara Nangali Sahib at Poonch and Shri Budha Amarnath Yatries at Mandi in Poonch district.
Asserting that tourism is playing a pivotal role in the economic development of the State, he said that the Government is paying focused attention on development of tourist destinations and creation of infrastructure facilities in all the regions of the State. He said establishment of 22 Tourism Development Authorities was the major step forward to promote this lucrative industry in the state.
The Minister said that the Government is keen to develop all tourism potential destinations in the state so that no region remains neglected. He said projects worth Rs. 240 crore are being implemented for the creation of quality tourism infrastructure through various tourism development authorities in the state.
Member Legislative Assembly, Surankote, Ch. Mohammad Aslam, Commissioner/Secretary, Tourism and Culture Atal Duloo, Special Secretary, Tourism, Altaf Hussain, Chief Executive Officer, Poonch Development Authority, Ajaz-ul-Hassan Bandey Director, Tourism, Jammu. R K Verma, Joint Director Planning- Tourism Department, Parvez Handoo and Chief Town Planner, Jammu attended the meeting.
Later, the Chief Executive officer, PDA gave a power point presentation of the physical and financial achievements registered by the PDA since its inception,. He said that construction works of TRCs Poonch and Surakote costing Rs.3.41 crore are at final stage while as way side amenities at Takia Sharief Bandi Banichachain and conservation and restoration work of Poonch fort Phase-I have been completed at a cost of Rs. 90 lakh. He informed that the construction work of cafeterias at Noori Chamb and Chakan-da-Bagh is also near completion at a cumulative cost of Rs. 65 lakh.
The Minister directed concerned authorities to ensure timely completion of all ongoing developmental projects. He also instructed for sorting out land acquisition matters with revenue authorities for taking up of new projects in the district.