Twenty-three years ago, the Patnitop Development Authority was constituted in the year 1992 under Section 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970. Three years later, that is 1995, Master Plan for development of Patnitop was floated by the Government. Ironically, the same Master Plan is governing the developmental activities till date despite the fact that the jurisdiction of the Patnitop Development Authority was increased to 492 square kilometers from 265 square kilometers few years back to cover more locations having tourism potential.
Now after twenty years of wait, the Government is all set to complete the process for having new Master Plan for Patnitop. A committee headed by District Development Commissioner (DDC) Udhampur and comprising of Director Tourism Jammu, Chief Town Planner, Jammu and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Patnitop Development Authority will ascertain which suggestions and objections are required to be incorporated in the new Master Plan. Once the committee completes its exercise, the Tourism Department will place the recommendation before the Cabinet for final approval. The encouraging point is that the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Hyderabad has highlighted the tourist potential of Patnitop in more than one respect and has recommended that its development should be undertaken at par with tourism development in Kashmir.
We hope that new Master Plan would be implemented in totality and Patnitop would have all the facilities in place for attracting more tourists. The CEPT has categorically mentioned in the draft Revised Master Plan that keeping in view bounties of nature, Patnitop can be developed as an equally important tourist destination area as the Kashmir valley.
The CEPT has said that the accommodation facilities are concentrated mainly in Patnitop. Kud and Sanasar don’t have adequate facilities. Moreover, the present available rooms are not sufficient to meet the demand in the peak season. It has laid thrust on development of pilgrim destination at Patnitop and surrounding area; development of tourist destination at Sanasar-Nathatop; construction of budgeted accommodation at Nathatop, development of meadows at Sanasar and development of tourist destination at Kothri, Ladhwal, Shankh Pal and Kirya.
It has also laid stress on creation of necessary healthcare facilities for the convenience of the tourists, which are presently lacking at Patnitop and surrounding areas.
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