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Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 29 March 2018

• Priya Sethi emphasizes on exploring Jammu’s virgin tourists destination

JAMMU: Minister of State for Education, Tourism and Floriculture, Priya Sethi today declared the Tulip garden at Sanasar open for public. The garden has been developed by the Floriculture Department on the area of four kanals given by Patnitop Development Authority (PDA). The Minister was accompanied by MLA, RAMBAN, Neelam Kumar Lahgeh , Vice Chairman, SICOP, Dr. Ali Mohammad Mir and State Vice President BJP, Yudhvir Sethi and State General Secretary BJP, Pawan Khajuria. 

 

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister emphasized on exploring Jammu’s virgin tourist destination to make the region emerge as an independent and a major tourist destination in the country. She said that resolute efforts being made aiming at promoting diverse tourism opportunities of the region and Tulip garden is one of such efforts to offer the tourists to have a mesmerizing  experience of the natural beauty of Jammu.

 

Emphasizing on expansion of Tulip garden, the Minister said that this year there were the three varieties of Tulips including Double Early Largo, Single Early Candelillia and Single Early Purissima to be displayed in the garden and the department is looking ahead to display large varieties of the Tulip next year while expanding its area.

The Minister appreciated the efforts of the Floriculture department and said that the Tulip garden will prove to the added attraction for the tourist coming to Sanasar as well as for the tourists visiting nearby major tourist’s spots like Patnitop, Kudh and Nathatop. Priya Sethi said that the Floriculture department is putting some dedicated efforts for the last three years and this year, the tulip has bloom to its fullest. Some varieties of Tulip can also be witnessed at Kuadh and Bhour Caamp, she added.

 

Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Tariq Hussain Ganie, SSP Ramban, Mohan Lal, Director Floriculture, Jammu, Babila Rakwal, CEO, PDA Rajinder Singh, Administrator, AQUAF ,Zulfkar Ali Rahat, Chief Horticulture Officer, Mukesh Sharma besides Hotelier association members were also present on the occasion.  Citing various steps undertook by the Government, the Minister said that several new initiatives are underway to attract more tourists and enhance the facilities to the tourists in the region, adding that, a comprehensive mechanism has been put in place to promote and develop the prominent places of tourist importance.

 

Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Tourism Minister and Floriculture Minister have shown a keen interest to promote J&K’s tourism to its full potential, the Minister maintained. She said that the Floriculture and Tourism are both integrated sectors and the State of J&K has shown immense potential in their growth and expansion. Government is planning to develop theme based gardens of indigenous flowers at various places that will not only attract more tourists but will also give a flip to the economy of those areas and proved to be beneficial for framers and flower growers.

 

The Minister said that the government is determined to develop Tulip garden in Bhaderwah and Kishtawar as well to boost the tourist inflow in these potential tourists’ destinations. Identification of trekking routes at Bhaderwah is under process and will soon to be introduced, she added. “Every tourist destination as its own USP and any development to these areas shall be done in accordance with it”, the Minister affirmed.

 

The Minister said that Sanasar has every element to attract the large number of tourist footfalls and exhorted upon developing the lake, ponds, view points, fountain, and shikara while enhancing the adventure sports infrastructure in its vicinity. She also passed the directions for developing a separate track for the horse riding. Priya Sethi assured that the Golf Course at Sanasar will soon to be inaugurated and transportation facilities to be enhanced catering to the needs of the tourist and the locals.

 

The Minister stressed on providing all basic facilities’ to the tourists coming to Sanasar such as clean drinking water, clean sanitation, accommodation to make their visit comfortable. She said that the issue of opening of ATM at Patnitop has already been taken up to the concerned authorities. The Minister said that the Tourist spots with regular tourist footfall will be nurtured on priority and invite the entrepreneur to develop infrastructure such as camping sites, tents, prefabricated huts, adventure sports infrastructure, trekking routes at prime tourist destinations while maintaining natural environment and ecosystem.  Tourists coming from outside the state also shared the experiences of their visit to J&K with the Minister.