Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 19: Of three multi-crore tourism projects in Jammu which had been approved by the Union Ministry of Tourism about 15 months back, to boost tourism in Jammu district, two are yet to take off while the work on third one is going on at snail’s pace.
According to official sources, direct train service to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi base camp town of Katra, which was started in July 2014, gave a setback to Jammu tourism, after which on the recommendation of State Government, the Union Ministry of Tourism in 2016 accorded sanction to three tourism projects for Jammu and one for Katra to give fillip to the tourism activities.
Sources disclosed that all these projects worth Rs 27.73 crore were sanctioned by the Union Ministry under ‘Swadesh Darshan’ scheme and to ensure no delay in execution of the projects the whole amount of funds were sanctioned by Ministry to the J&K Government within few months.
They said that the projects sanctioned for Jammu were development of Suchetgarh border with a cost of Rs 4.92 crore, construction of Rs 8 crore worth Amusement Park at Sidhra Golf Course and establishment of musical water foundation with sound and light show at Bagh-e-Bahu with a cost of Rs 10.82 crore.
Sources disclosed that of Rs 27.23 crore, an amount of Rs 4.92 crore was to be spent on development of Suchetgarh border. The project included restoration of pre-independence railway platform, construction of theme based museum and gallantry gallery and a multi-purpose hall for the convenience of the tourists.
“Of the three projects, establishment of musical water foundation with sound and light show at Bagh-e-Bahu is the largest with an approved amount of Rs 10.82 crore”, they said, adding if the project is completed in time, it may attract thousands of tourists, who, at present, prefer to leave immediately after paying obeisance at Bagh-e-Bahu (Bawe Wali Mata) Temple, as presently there is nothing which can fascinate the tourists.
However, sources regretted that the project is still in tendering stage what to say of completion of the project. They further informed that till date tenders have been issued four times by the department but no bid has been finalized yet, the reasons best known to the authorities.
The second major project, the construction of Amusement Park at Sidhra Gold Course, is also facing apathy of the State Tourism department, which is yet to complete the process of land acquisition to start the project, as sources alleged that some land where the project has to be executed belonged to Forest department.
However, sources said, the work on project of development of Suchetgarh border is on. They said that work on the project was started in May this year after completion of tendering process but after passing of five months no much progress is visible as work is going on at snail’s pace.
They said that all these projects may prove boon to the otherwise dying tourism industry of Jammu but due to slackness on the part of Tourism Department in timely execution of these projects, thousands of people belonging to Jammu who are directly and indirectly dependent on tourism industry for their bread and butter are suffering badly.
When contacted, Director Tourism Jammu, Smita Sethi, admitted that work on amusement park at Sidhra Golf Course and establishment of musical water foundation with sound and light show at Bagh-e-Bahu could not be started till date.
She confirmed that land acquisition is yet to be done in project of Amusement Park at Sidhra Golf Course but expressed hope that the same will be completed by December 1, as all requisite formalities have been completed. Regarding Bagh-e-Bahu project, Sethi said that the work on the project will be started soon as received bids have been referred to Administrative Department for approval.
About Suchetgarh border project, she maintained that till date about 60 % work like construction of gallantry gallery, multi-purpose hall and other buildings has been completed while many important works like restoration of pre-independence railway platform and construction of theme based museum are lying pending but will be completed soon.
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