Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Nov 12: The poor infrastructure in tourism sector at Basholi puts a question mark on the overall development of Basholi despite having the natural beauty and a large scope for tourism attraction.
The Ranjit Sagar Dam and Atal Setu bridge at Basholi on Ravi river is mark of attraction for every one. The large number of tourists on way to Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh turn their vehicles towards Basholi to enjoy the natural beauty and attractive Dam and Atal Setu . But they feel disappointed to see the poor infrastructure and return dejected within no time.
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The Lakhanpur Sarthal Development Authority (LSDA) has started the Steamer service in the month of June , 2017 and Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti inaugurated the same. She also inaugurated the tourism development works worth Rs 4 crore. But nothing is visible on the ground.
Even the steamer service also failed to get better results due to lack or road connectivity and parking place. A kachha road was raised to approach the steamer service point during the visit of Chief Minister, which is still in same position and no change was found despite the passing of five months. It is not possible for the people to walk on the foot and most the tourists go back after seeing the dangerous road link to steamer ride.
A local resident Prem Sagar Aziz said that thousands canals of land belonging to people of Basholi submerged in the dam. The youth have hope of employment through tourism development. But the State Government failed to raise basic infrastructure for tourism attraction despite the passing of 15 years. There is no arrangement of lodging and boarding for tourist, the restaurants and hotels are no where seen, he added.
Aziz said how tourists can stay here when there are no proper facilities and when no attention is paid to build the infrastructure. A youth, Sanjeev Vaid said that the youth of Basholi are very much disappointed over the slow policy of tourism development in Basholi. The Himachal Pradesh which is just 10 km from Basholi have full infrastructure for tourist and tourist in lakhs visit there day and night for whole the year. But Basholi have nothing and youth are paying price of it being unemployed .The Tourism Department is not interested to developing the Basholi and all focus has been fixed on Kashmir. If department fails to construct a road link to steamer point , how can we hope for more development in such circumstances.
The local people demanded the construction of approach road and other development works.
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