Jammu, Mar 30: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday asserted that tourism development works were prioritised based on the availability of land, financial resources and environmental considerations, particularly in fragile mountain ecosystems.
CM Omar, who is also the Tourism Minister, made these remarks while responding to a question of MLA Tral Rafiq Ahmad Naik, during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly, regarding the tourism sector, with particular reference to his constituency. To a pointed question of MLA, pertaining to the government plans to promote or develop tourism endowed heritage and natural sites of Tral, the Chief Minister reiterated that the Tourism Department remained committed to strengthening tourism infrastructure and improving visitor facilities at major tourist destinations across the Union Territory, including Tral constituency.
“It is pertinent to mention that tourism development works are prioritised based on the availability of land, financial resources and environmental considerations, particularly in fragile mountain ecosystems,” CM Omar said.
“Accordingly, such development initiatives are undertaken in a phased manner in accordance with the approved plans and budgetary provisions. In this regard with a view to strengthening tourism facilities in the Tral constituency, two cafeterias at Faiz Panch, Tral and Bajwani are presently under construction by the Tourism department,” the Chief Minister informed the House. Responding to another query about the government plan to take over the existing defunct huts and cafeterias in the constituency for their time bound revival, the Chief Minister informed that the Tourism Department was in the process of taking over certain tourism assets from the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation, including four Eco Log Huts and a Tourist Facilitation Centre at Shikargah. “These assets will be revived and made operational in a phased manner after their formal takeover,” he said.
CM Omar further stated that the Department of Culture had undertaken several initiatives for the promotion, preservation, and development of heritage and religious tourism sites across Jammu and Kashmir, including those in Tral constituency. “These works are being executed in a phased and time-bound manner under the capex budget, including works under capex and the scheme for revival, restoration, preservation and maintenance of architecture and heritage in Jammu and Kashmir. “These initiatives aim to preserve the rich cultural and architectural heritage of the region while promoting heritage and religious tourism in a planned and sustainable manner,” he added.
