Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 9: The 6th meeting of Kokernag Development Authority (KDA) was held under the chairmanship of Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmad Mir here on Monday.
Minister for Haj, Auqaf and Floriculture, Peerzada Mohammad Syed was also present in the meeting.
The meeting was informed that tourism projects worth Rs 18.88 crore were taken up in the area under Centre and State Plans at the destination against which major tourism projects including development of Club Park, Pine View Hill Park at Bidder and recreational park at Dandipora have been completed while as work on TRC Kokernag is in final stages and work on Bringi garden at Bidder Hayatpora is also apace.
The meeting was told that 11 tourism development works worth Rs 3.83 crore of different nature have been also completed so far.
Addressing the meeting, the Tourism Minister emphasized on striking a balance between conservation of environment and development of tourism infrastructure.
The Minister said that Kashmir valley has witnessed tremendous growth in tourism sector during last few years and the tourist places like Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg are receiving a huge influx. He said that there is a need of promoting and bringing new destinations on tourism map like lush green areas of Chattapal and Margan and Simthan tops. He however, cautioned that the development should not happen at the cost of environment. “We should develop infrastructure at the new tourist places but at the same time ensure preservation of ecologically fragile zones,” he said.
“We have seen that increased human interference has resulted in ecological imbalance in many virgin lush green environs. So, instead of going for concrete structures there is a need to focus on eco-tourism”.
Minister for Haj and Auqaf, Peerzada Syed underscored the need for time bound completion of all tourism projects in the area. He stressed on early finalization of Master Plan for creation of required tourist infrastructure in a planned manner.
MLA, Shangu Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, while highlighting the tourism potential of the area, urged that all the potential areas of the Constituency should be brought under the ambit of KDA for development. He said that parking lot at Achabal should be developed on the land already acquired for the purpose.
Follow our WhatsApp channel