Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Nov 14: The ever-enchanting Patnitop Tourism Circuit embraced the flower power with Patnitop Development Authority’s ‘Project Flower Valley’, aimed at spurring tourism, biodiversity and socio-economic development.
“Flowers are big business. Millions of them are sold as cut or loose flowers, processed into oils, dyes, edibles, beverages, medicines, cosmetics, incense sticks, powders, and various other value-added products. When they bloom, their ephemeral beauty attracts admirers. Throughout their natural life cycle, and even beyond, they are source of beauty and business. Hence, we teamed up with experts from different domains and Panchayati Raj Institutions to herald the Project Flower Valley in our jurisdiction,” said Thakur Sher Singh, CEO PDA.
“In the initial phase of the project, some ninety thousand seedlings of flowering plants, mostly lavender, have been planted since last year over an area of 12.50 acres,” he said, adding, 70,000 lavenders procured from Doda district have been planted at multiple locations of the PDA jurisdiction in the months of September-October, 2022.
Meanwhile, he said, other flowering plants including varieties of cosmos, marigold, etc, nearly 20,000 in number, have been planted as per their appropriate seasons in the years 2021 and 2022. “As some of these seedlings planted around the ancient Mani Mahesh Temple, situated enroute Nathatop, burst into flowers, visitors are stopping by to capture their stunning sight and scent. However, full bloom is expected to most likely occur in the months of March-April, 2023,” the officer added.
Applauding the Project Flower Valley, Parkash Chand, BDC Chairman Chenani, said, “This is the first-of-its-kind flower-based project introduced in Jammu Division, which will not only boost the tourism in the Patnitop Tourism Circuit, but will also spark entrepreneurship, provide rural employment, encourage returning to agriculture, increase revenues, boost biodiversity, and bring in holistic development.”
“Patnitop Tourism Circuit has always been a tourist’s favourite, but in real sense, it is now that is being explored, developed and promoted, and the socio-economic benefits of tourism are starting to reach the local rural population,” BDC Chairman added.
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