Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 13: Principal Secretary Industries & Commerce and Department of Tourism, Navin Kumar Choudhary took stock of tourism sector in Bhaderwah and Kishtwar areas in a review meeting held here today with the officers of Bhaderwah and Kishtwar Development Authorities besides officers of the Tourism Department.
Director Tourism Jammu, Deepika Kumari; Director Planning (Tourism), Lateef Poswal; Director Finance, Parvaiz Ahmad Kakroo, Chief Executive Officer Bhaderwah Development Authority, Rajinder Kumar Khajuria; Chief Executive Officer Kishtwar Development Authority, Pawan Parihar; Deputy Secretary Tourism, Navdeep Wazir and other officers of the Tourism Department were present in the meeting.
Navin directed the officers to look for the ways and means to fully exploit tourism potential of these areas blessed with abundant tourism potential. He stressed on exploring possibility of developing hydropower projects of the area into major tourism attractions. He directed the officers to create subsidiary amenities there in consultation with the authorities for tourists thronging the spots.
Principal Secretary asked the officers to create facilities for water sports in the area with due consideration to all safety measures before initiating any such activity there. He also asked for preparing proposal of creating wayside facilities including separate washrooms at regular distances on roads leading to these tourism destinations.
He asked the officers to bring the rent of tourism outlets of these areas in sync with the prevailing market rates after consultation with all the stakeholders. He underscored the need for reserving the spots for camping where tented accommodations could be erected to tide over the shortage of hotels in the area. He also asked the officers to establish home stay facilities in these areas. He further asked the officers to properly maintain the assets created by the department and keep them hygienic for public use.
Navin directed to update the Master Plans of both the authorities before March next year. He also exhorted upon them to complete all the PMDP projects before the end of this year after reviewing their status.
Meanwhile, the officers proposed procurement of All Terrain Vehicles, mountain bicycles, snow scooters, shredder, tractor for giving fillip to tourism activities in the area. They further proposed several other projects to be included under PMDP phase-II.
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