*Tourism Deptt pins hopes on 2nd phase of PMDP
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 24: Patnitop and Sanasar, two major tourist resorts of Jammu region will remain in ‘isolation’ for unspecified period as no time-frame has been fixed for start of work on several projects, which were announced nearly two years back in order to attract tourists especially after opening of Chenani-Nashri road tunnel which has cut off these areas.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that while chairing the Board of Directors meeting of Patnitop Development Authority on June 14, 2015, the then Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had announced several vital projects for Patnitop-Sanasar areas so that following opening of Chenani-Nashri road tunnel the flow of tourists to these places doesn’t get affected.
Keeping in view the urgency of such projects, the former Chief Minister had even directed the Tourism Department and Patnitop Development Authority to immediately initiate process for formulation of Detailed Project Reports so that these projects could become reality in shortest possible time.
However, no time-frame has been fixed for start of work on majority of the projects even after lapse of nearly two years for want of funding source while as work on two other projects has yet not picked up pace despite completion of all the formalities including identification of funding source, sources said.
They informed that within short span of opening of Chenani-Nashri road tunnel these major tourist resorts have fallen in ‘isolation’ as flow of tourists has declined considerably. Earlier, the vehicles carrying tourists used to have brief halt at Patnitop but following opening of road tunnel most of the vehicles now prefer to cross it to reach Nashri rather than opting for route via Patnitop.
Giving project wise details, sources said that work on ropeway project, which was conceived more than a decade back, has yet not began despite completion of all the formalities. “Skyview Company of Kashmir valley, which was given the contract for construction of this project, last year, has yet not mobilized men and machinery”, they said, adding “the only step which it has taken so far pertains to some work on road leading to the project sites”.
About amusement park at Sanasar, sources said that when the Tourism Department started pursuing this project with Union Tourism Ministry for funding the State was told that there was no provision under Swadesh Darshan Scheme for this component.
Though assurance for funding light and sound show in place of Amusement Park was extended by the Union Ministry yet no time-frame can be specified for the start of work as this project will be cleared under 2nd Phase of Prime Minister’s Development Programme (PMDP), sources said. Similarly, initially it was decided that an electric train from Patnitop to Batote would be started but the Consultant ruled out the same and suggested electric driven trolley buses. “For this project also, the Tourism Department is pinning hope on 2nd phase of PMDP”, they added.
Likewise, water sports activities in reservoir of Baglihar Hydroelectric Project have yet not started till date. There was confusion as to whether Patnitop Development Authority or Bhaderwah Development Authority should handle such activities and now the task has been assigned to Bhaderwah Development Authority on the ground that catchment area is Pul Doda, which is nearer to the jurisdiction of BDA.
Expressing inability to specify time-frame for start of water sports activities, sources said that Bhaderwah Development Authority has floated tenders for various components and further steps would be taken only after completion of tendering exercise.
Similar is the fate of announcement regarding helipad on Sanasar road and completion of all formalities for notification of new Master Plan for Patnitop. “For Sewerage Treatment Plant at Patnitop the Tourism Department is also pinning hopes on 2nd phase of PMDP as State has expressed inability to provide full funding for the same”, sources said.
“The Tourism Department should ensure that all the formalities for these projects are completed in shortest possible time so that work on the same begins soon after clearance under 2nd phase of PMDP otherwise Patnitop and Sansar would remain in isolation especially after opening of Chenani-Nashri road tunnel”, they stressed.
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