Shadow Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7:
The assurance given by Sh Manoj Sinha the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, J&K, to a delegation of Dogra Sadar Sabha held at Raj Bhawan, Jammu on 04-02-2021was welcomed by Th. Gulchain Singh Charak, former Minister and President DSS. He also thanked the Hon’ble Lt Governor regarding assurances of conservation and restoration of J&K’s glorious heritage and creating the requisite tourism infrastructure for developing tourist spots and heritage sites with special reference to conservation and reuse of the of Mubarak Mandi complex as a Cultural tourism destination, and the development and promotion of other Tourism Destinations in Jammu province.
These issues were raised in a memorandum endorsed by 94 prominent Dogra personalities listing the concerns expressed in a meeting of held earlier at Dogra Sadar Sabha on 23-01-2021.
Briefing newsmen during press conference at Dogra Sadar Sabha on 07-02-2021, Sh Charak disclosed that meetings were also held earlier with the Ministers and other officials in the Ministries of Culture, Tourism and Transport at New Delhi from 31 January to 2nd February, regarding concerns expressed in the memorandum which, as decided in the meeting of prominent personalities, was also submitted to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India as well as the Hon’ble Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) Government of India, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), PMO, and the Hon’ble Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Culture and Tourism. He also thanked the Hon’ble Ministers and other officials of the Ministries of Culture, Tourism and Transport for assuring to look into the issues raised in the memorandum. Providing details of the issues put up in the meeting Sh Charak disclosed that besides expediting the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan for Conservation and Adaptive Reuse of Mubarak Mandi Palace Complex, as a Cultural Tourism Destination for bringing Jammu on the International Tourist Map, other issues pertaining to promotion of tourism included making Jammu, the City of Temples a part of the International Tourism Circuit under the Incredible India Campaign, development of Basohli, Akhnoor and Purmandal/Utterbehani as cultural tourism destinations, setting up of an Indian Institute of Miniature Paintings at Basohli; and, setting up of a site museum at Ambaran Buddhist excavation site at Akhnoor.
Sh Charak said that it had also been emphasized the memorials in Jammu region be properly maintained and the restrictions in the city during the winter months which comprised a virtual siege denying tourists and citizens access to the historic memorial of Raja Jambulochan, Gandhi Bhawan , Zenana Park, Shri Ranvishwar temple, Shri Raghunathji temple etc be reviewed and the front boundary wall and entrance to Civil Secretariat shifted adequately inwards closer to the building, and leave the road in front of the secretariat free thoroughfare for citizens and tourists.
He said that it had also been demanded in the meeting with the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor that a befitting memorial in the memory of thousands of martyrs of the country who laid down their lives while protecting this beautiful State founded by the valiant Dogras be also created at a prominent location, preferably near the Dal Lake in Srinagar, so that the tourists and citizens can pay homage to the martyrs, and also know the history and derive inspiration from their example. He said that concern was also expressed regarding the rampant blasting and destabilization of the mountainsides in the course of four-laning of the National Highway between Ramban and Banihal without proper planning which was undermining the link roads and cutting off villages and tourist spots situated along the Highway some of which are on the verge of sinking due to landslide. Other issues included the protection and development of a green ribbon along Ranbir Canal with tourist facilities at appropriate intervals, as part of four-laning from Jammu to Akhnoor by National Highway Authority of India, upgradation/repairs and providing of snow-clearing machines on key roads connecting various resorts including the Patnitop Sanasar Road for accessing Sanasar, the Bhaderwah -Chamba Road for accessing Padri and the Bani-Bhaderwah Road for accessing Sarthal.
Sh Charak further informed that concern about ignoring of tourist spots in Jammu region by the 31 member parliamentary committee on transport tourism and culture which bye passed Jammu during its recent study tour of J&K was also brought to the notice of the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor. It was emphasised that, tourist destinations in Jammu needed urgent attention in respect of strengthening of connectivity and tourism infrastructure and it was essential that a tour of the committee to Jammu province be also arranged.
