Excelsior Correspondent
PAHALGAM, June 29: In a significant move aimed at developing Pahalgam as an eco-friendly high-end tourist destination, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today ordered Town Planning Organization (TPO) to immediately re-examine its earlier recommendations and submit a concrete Draft Master Plan on which work can commence in the next three months, after seeking approval of the State Cabinet.
To give local population a sense of ownership, he also directed the Tourism Department to prepare a concept plan for setting up of a School for Skill Development at Pahalgam that professionally trains local youth in various skills connected to hospitality, housekeeping and landscaping sectors, which are directly connected with the tourism industry.
The Chief Minister gave these directions while chairing high-level meetings to review the Pahalgam Draft Master Plan-2032 and ongoing developmental works in one of Valley’s premier health resorts.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh, Minister for Public Works, Floriculture, Gardens & Parks, Syed Altaf Bukhari, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Chairman, J&K Bank. Mushtaq Ahmad, Commissioner / Secretary, Tourism & Culture, Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon, Director Tourism, Kashmir & MD JKTDC, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Bashir Khan, Directors of Floriculture and Fisheries Departments, Chief Engineer R&B, Chief Town Planner and CEO, PDA participated in the meeting.
Placing high priority on developing Pahalgam as an all-season tourist destination, the Chief Minister observed that Draft Master Plan of Pahalgam resort, being conceived by TPO, requires a relook so that a long-term perspective plan, which envisages development of one of Kashmir’s most visited health resorts, are incorporated in it.
The earlier approved Master Plan 2005-2025 of Pahalgam is being revised on the directions of the High Court so that basic facilities, development works and recreational avenues for the tourists can be created in a planned manner by adhering to strict procedural and environmental norms, as laid down in the Master Plan. The Court had also ordered an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of the resort to protect its fragile environment.
In a separate meeting, Mufti Sayeed reviewed follow-up action of his directions given during his earlier visit to Pahalgam. During the meeting, he laid stress upon the Tourism Department to take immediate steps to make Pahalgam Golf Course along with its huts and Club Building, a self-sustaining organization.
While reviewing the ongoing developmental works in Pahalgam, the Chief Minister set a deadline of November 28, this year for Chief Engineer, UEED, Kashmir, to commission the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP).
Mufti Sayeed was also informed that the work on Solid Waste Management for scientific disposal of waste at Sarbal will commence in the next few days for which a reputed Consultant has been already engaged by the PDA.
Chief Minister also observed that Pahalgam has a huge potential to be developed as a tourist-cum-educational hub, on pattern of some of the other resorts in the country like Dalhousie and Dehradun.
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