Srinagar, May 09 (Scoop News) – J&K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today highlighted the handicraft skill and natural beauty of the J&K State and said that the economy of the Valley is largely dependent on these two sectors.
Omar was speaking in an inaugural function of Cultural and Heritage Park at Chinar Bagh in Srinagar.
“Both the two require conducive and peaceful atmosphere to nurture”, he said and underlined the importance of peace in the process of development. He said government has created lot of infrastructure in the tourism sector during last two years. He asked the Tourism Department not to replicate same recreational and entertainment facilities but work out creation of tourist facilities on new themes. “There is no dearth of themes to create attractive entertainment infrastructure and amusement parks in the city”, he added.
The Chief Minister said that creation of infrastructure is easy but its maintenance and proper utilization is the real challenge to accept. He asked the department to fully utilize the facilities already provided in the tourism sector in Srinagar city to make the stay of tourists entertaining and attractive. “You should draw a calendar of organizing Melas in various tourist places to attract tourists and generate economic activities for locals”, he added.
The Chief Minister asked the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy to use his good office in reviving the light and sound show at Shalimar used to be operated by the Central Tourism Directorate. “This would provide evening attraction to the tourists at the garden”, he said.
Omar Abdullah expressed hope that current summer will be peaceful and economically productive for the people. “The tourist season in the Valley brings with it lot of economic hope for small traders, shikara wallas, houseboat owners, hoteliers, handicraft traders, petty businessmen, sumo and auto drivers besides others”, he said adding in a lighter vein that he prefers jams on roads which are full of life rather than deserted roads giving lifeless looks.
Earlier J&K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah today inaugurated Cultural and Heritage Park at Chinar Bagh here.
The park has been developed by the Tourism Department at a cost of about Rs. 3 crores. Its 2nd phase is likely to cost about Rs. 4 crores. The park provides various entertainment sections including musical fountain and play area for children. It will prove a very good lung place in the city and provide recreational facilities to the people.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah in his speech complemented the State Government for achieving new strides in the development of tourist infrastructure in the State and said that the revival of Chinar Bagh as a Cultural and Heritage Park would offer great attraction to the tourists and the locals.
The Union Minister underlined the need of proper maintenance of the park and asked the locals to play their role in the upkeep of Chinar Bagh. “This will be an important recreational and entertainment avenue available to the locals and it is their duty to take every care for its maintenance”, he said.
Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, Minister of State R&B, Javid Ahmad Dar, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Atal Dulloo, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon, Director Tourism, Kashmir, Farooq Shah and senior officers of Tourism Department were present on the occasion.
Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora and Minister of State for Tourism and Home, Nasir Aslam Wani also spoke on the occasion and spelt out the schemes under implementation to improve the tourist infrastructure in the State.