The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh today called on several Union Ministers and discussed various developmental projects related to the state.The Dy Chief Minister met Union Minister for Water Resources, Ms. Uma Bharti and Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Mahesh Sharma.While interacting with Ms. Uma Bharti, the Deputy Chief Minister called for giving special dispensation to Jammu and Kashmir as the state is blessed with immense wealth of water resources which could be channelized to accelerate the development of the State.He said the State has already undertaken the prestigious Tawi Lake Water Project in the Jammu city, which will a long way in ensuring beautification of the Tawi River and its embankments resulting in boosting the tourism activities in the area.Dr Singh also called for extending several water related projects to the State. He also raised the issue of Shahpur Kandi Canal and asked for the intervention of the Centre so that the matter is amicably resolved with the Punjab Government as the project is significant for irrigating huge tracts of agriculture land in Kathua district.
The Union Minister for Water Resources assured the Deputy Chief Minister that the issues raised by him would be redressed within the shortest possible time.While highlighting the huge potential of tourism in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Singh asked the Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Mahesh Sharma to give a special dispensation to the sector so that it gets the requisite flip.He said besides augmenting the already existing tourist infra in the State, the Centre should also give the requisite funds for developing Bani-Basholi-Billawar tourist circuit so that the area comes up in the tourist map of the country. “The area has huge potential of attracting the tourists due to its beautiful landscape and also its proximity with the neighbouring State’s of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh”, he maintained. The Deputy Chief Minister also called for giving special funds for developing Chenab region especially Bhaderwah and also the Rajouri and Poonch areas of the Jammu division. He said that these areas are blessed with scenic beauty and necessary augmentation of the existing tourist infra needs to be done.It is pertinent to mention that the Deputy Chief Minister has been meeting several Union Ministers in connection with accelerating the developmental activities and projects in the State.