KATHUA: Government has decided to create adequate tourism infrastructure to capitalize the huge Eco-tourism potential in Basohli and its suburbs. To begin with, JKSPCB would spend Rs 3.5 Crore for creating tourist infra including Parks, huts and take up landscaping of potential areas to attract nature lovers and promote camp tourism.
This was stated by Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment after inaugurating newly constructed Forest Check Post here at Atal Setu, Basohli and addressing series of public gatherings during day long tour of Bani and Basohli areas. He further informed that to promote sustainable travel, protect the environment and make sure that tourist money support the local community, government would promote community-based eco-tourism through Joint Forest Management.
He stressed on the need of streamlining the surveillance system for preservation and protection of forest wealth. Speaking a public grievance redressal camp in Bani, the Minister emphasized on promoting Eco-tourism in the area that caters the demand of environment conservation and welfare of local community.
“Bani and Basohli area have unique topography where tourists can enjoy the treasured wealth of nature” he said. For intensifying plantation, F Ch Lal Singh said that a Nursery on modern lines with capacity of 40 lakh plants will be established at Hutt- Mashka. He also informed that 30% of the plantation being done by the forest department consists of fruit plants to minimize man-animal conflict adding ornamental and flower plants are being planted along the roads to create a scenic view for attraction of tourists.
Meanwhile, on the directions of the Minster, all the stone crushers in Bani-Basohli areas were sealed by the concerned authorities for violating norms. Lal Singh asked the concerned authorities to take stringent action if any individual or agency was seen causing damage to forests while executing development works in Bani-Basohli.
MLA Bani, Jeevan Lal, Chief Wild Life Warden, Suresh Chugh, CCF Jammu, S F A Gilani, Director FPF, Asaf Mohd. Sagar, Dierctor Social Forestry, A K Gupta, Director SFRI, B M Sharma, Regional Wildlife Warden, Dr Senthil Kumar, CF Research Jammu, Harminder Singh, SDM Bani, Ajit Singh, CEO LSDA, Sudarshan Kumar, XENs and DFOs accompanied the minister during the visit.