Focusing her attention on promoting Jammu as an independent tourism destination, J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday conducted whirlwind tour of various ‘hot spots’ claiming Jammu has all the makings of an ideal tourist destination.
She arrived at the Suchetgarh Octroi post, close to the International Border in RS Pura sector and walked towards the zero line to give wings to her father’s dream of developing Suchetgarh Octroi post on the lines of Wagah border .
Sharing her thoughts with the mediapersons, Mehbooba said she “will be delighted if the border town is promoted as a people-to-people meeting point with Sialkot, in Pakistan, across the International Border (IB)”.
She also urged the media to highlight the cultural camaraderie that exists between the people of India and Pakistan. “I wonder if hostilities can become news between the two neighbours, why can’t cultural bonhomie,” she asked, while touring border areas of Suchetgarh and shrine of Baba Chamliyal, revered by people on both sides of the IB.
During her day-long tour, Mehbooba, along with her Deputy Nirmal Singh, inspected ongoing works at Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society, Maharaja Hari Singh Park, Tawi Barrage and the Jammu Haat.
She said there was an urgent need to frame right strategy to showcase Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex in the City of Temples, Mughal Sarais in Rajouri, Ranjit Sagar Dam in Basohli, border tourism in Suchetgarh and RS Pura and nature destinations like Patnitop, Bhadarwah and Warwan valley. “I promise to take tourism to all corners of Jammu, for which a proposal for a separate Tourist Circuit will be shortly finalised,” she stated.
She underlined the need to position Jammu as a major cultural destination by channelising the huge footfall of Mata Vaishnodevi Devi pilgrims towards the heritage treasure trove in the city.
The Chief Minister, however, noted with displeasure the non-utilisation of funds sanctioned for restoration of the complex to its pristine glory.
“Restoration of the structures will take time. We need to explore foreign expertise and funding to revive the heritage structure. Meanwhile, we will landscape the lawns by planting exotic trees and flowers and laying ornamental benches to spruce up the complex precincts,” she said, while passing instructions for rebuilding the coronation place of the Maharaja.
later in the day Chief Minister while reviewing the progress on the implementation of central flagship programmes directed Administrative Secretaries to bridge the gaps within respective central departments so that the projected funding under each scheme is received well in time.
Referring to the State’s “weak resource” base, she described the central flagship programmes as a pivot of cooperative federalism aimed at bringing down levels of poverty.