‘Uncertainty has ended, people are getting dividends’
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 1: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said that 1.27 crore tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir this year so far and the number is all set to cross previous year’s record.
The LG while addressing a gathering at Charar-e-Sharief said that this year so far 1.27 crore tourists have visited J&K and the figure is much higher than last year. “We hope to see record breaking tourist arrivals by the year end,” he added.
Sinha said that this is due to a peaceful atmosphere that is prevailing in Kashmir. “It is due to this that business remains on throughout the year and schools and colleges are functioning normally,” he added.
The LG said that J&K has come out of the uncertainty phase and people are getting the dividends.
“I keep on saying always that nothing is possible without peace. No development is possible unless peace is established. There was a time when a shikara owner, a hotel owner and a common auto-rikshaw owner would suffer a lot due to uncertainty. We have come out of that phase,” he said.
Sinha said when a large number of tourists have started frequenting Kashmir, it was the prime duty or the administration to ensure quality infrastructure. “We are setting up tourist infrastructure everywhere in the UT to give the best facilities to our guests,” he said.
He added that the more tourist influx would improve the economy of the place. “When large number of guests come to Kashmir, our local shopkeeper, taxi driver, hotel and shikara owners will earn and at the end, our economy will improve,” he said.
Sinha showered praises on the revered saint Shiekh-ul-Alam Sheikh Noorudin Noorani (RA) and said that the world knows Sheikh-ul-Alam. “The saint doesn’t need to be introduced to anyone in the world as he is Sheikh-ul-Alam not Sheikh-ul Kashmir. The saint was an epitome of Sufism,” he added.
The LG said that Kashmir University’s full-fledged Centre will come up at Budgam district and he will discuss the issue with the Vice-Chancellor KU shortly. About the district hospital in Budgam, he said that the hospital will offer all major facilities to people.
“I will not make claims of something that can’t happen. I won’t make hollow promises so that if someone will replace me and will claim this was promised but didn’t happen,” he said.
The LG said that so far, 30,000 youth got jobs and all were selected through transparent manner. “Recruitment process will once again start from September this year,” he said.
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