Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 2: A mega beautification-cum-eco development project to further add to aesthetic grandeur of historical Mughal Road making it an attractive tourist destination at specific spots along the road is on anvil.
This was announced by Minister for Forests and Environment, Mian Altaf Ahmad, while chairing a joint meeting of officers of Forest Department, Wild Life and the members of Eco-Tourism Society convened to take stock of measures initiated for promotion of eco-tourism along Mughal Road.
“The prestigious project envisaged development of camping sites, rock climbing, mountaineering sites, rafting and other adventure sports besides recreation parks enroute the track from Hirpora to Rajouri on Mughal road”, the Minister maintained.
Addressing the meeting, the Minister asked the officers to constitute separate wings of Eco-Tourism Society, for effective monitoring of activities of concerned departments on both the sides of this road, with representation of local people.
Spelling out this year’s programme for promotion of eco-tourism activities along Mughal road, Mian Altaf said that several works like erecting pre-fabricated huts, lavatory blocks, shelter sheds, improvement of existing paths and viewing decks will be done on fast tract basis. For the purpose, the funds will be arranged under annual plan of CAMPA for 2013-14, he added.
The Minister set one month’s deadline for preparation of action plan for these works so that these could be started from April this year with the opening of the road in view of approaching tourist season. The Minister said that a suitable portion of land at Pir-Ki-Gali will be developed as Eco-Park for the tourists and the locals as well.
It was decided in the meeting that prefabricated tented accommodation will be erected by the Tourism Department at Pir-Ki-Gali, Nandansar and Hirpora tourist resorts for the tourists on the pattern of Amarnathji Yatra.
Among others Conservator of Forests (Wild life) Asif Mehmood, Regional Wild Life Warden, Kashmir, Manzoor Ahmad Tak, Conservator of Forests South Circle Kashmir, Abdul Gani Hajam, Agrostologist Kashmir Rashid Hayat, Wild Life Warden Shopian Intesar Suhail, DFO Shopian M. A. Kuthoo, DFO Poonch Harmohinder Singh and the members of Eco Tourism Society Advocate Aiyaz Ahmad Zaki and Master Gulzar Ahmad were present in the meeting.
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