Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 22: Minister for Housing, Horticulture, Culture, Youth Services and Sports Raman Bhalla on Sunday laid foundation stone of ‘Nature Interpretation Centre (NIC) at Doongian in Bathindi.
The NIC would be developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 20 lakh by Forest Department on 12 hectare available land within two years.
Chief Conservator Forest Roshan Jaggi, Secretary Sports Council Dalip Thusoo, Managing Director Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board (JKHB) Ram Paul Sharma, Conservator Forest Ashwani Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer Dr. V S Santhal Kumar besides other senior officers of Forest, Sports and JKHB were present on the occasion.
Interacting with the locals of Doongian village, Mr. Bhalla said that the NIC is being developed by the Forest Department to serve as an awareness generation centre. He said that the centre will have provision for various environmental-cum-forest related awareness generation programme, movies on the themes of wildlife conservation and climate change screened for visiting students, tourists, scholars and also for locals. He called upon the people to extend their full cooperation to the Forest Department in completing the project within stipulated time frame.
Mr. Bhalla said that with the completion of NIC on one hand improve the economic status of the locals of Doongian and on other hand will help Government in promoting eco-tourism, preserving of forest wealth and wildlife in the area.
Responding to the locals demand, the Minister asked the accompanied Managing Director JKHB to immediately start the construction of platform, view point and pre-feb shed at Panj Peer Devsathan at Doongian for the convenience of the devotees.
Later, the Minister also visited Gangyal Pandita Mohalla and Preet Nagar in Digiana and inspected the ongoing construction works of approach road to Pandita Mohalla and blacktopping of Digiana to Preet Nagar road, for which Government has earmarked Rs. 40 lakh. He asked the Roads and Buildings (R&B) accompanied officers to complete both the projects well before the start of rainy season by using quality material.
Meanwhile, Mr Bhalla laid foundation stones of two stadiums involving cost Rs. 85 lakh, one at Panjpeer in Bathindi and another at Sainik Colony.
Addressing the function after laying the foundation of stadiums, the Minister said the proposed stadium would be constructed with all standard facilities and amenities for playing all the games. He said he is very optimistic about the creative capabilities of local youth and it is only a matter of exposure that these youth need for showing their mettle. He directed the executing agencies to ensure completion of the works within the stipulated time schedule. He asked the local youth to take benefits of the stadiums once it is ready.
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