Minister for Education Naeem Akther today said that Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu division are poised for a big change as Government is taking various measures to develop these areas under border tourism programme. Responding to a question of Dr. Shehnaz Ganai, the Minister said that the Government is upgrading tourism infrastructure in Poonch and Rajouri to attract more tourists in the area, so as to improve economic conditions of people there.He said that creating better accessibility to these areas is the first priority of the Government. He informed the House that Loran-Gulmarg road will be developed, whereas construction of other roads is also under consideration so that the area is made easily accessible.Earlier Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi informed the House that five centrally sponsored projects have been funded by Union Ministry of Tourism at a sanctioned cost of Rs 19.11 crore in Poonch district, which includes development of Poonch area as tourist destination, conservation and restoration plan for Poonch Fort, development of Mughal road, Lake Circuit Poonch and infrastructure development in Poonch by PDA.She said that Directorate of Tourism Jammu has created “Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch” circuit, sanctioned by Ministry of Tourism at a cost of Rs 688.00 crore under Circuit Dev Programme of PMRP.
The Minister further stated that under annual state plan of Rs 1.1 crore, which is being supplemented to the central funding, various major projects have been executed which include Tourist Arrival centre at Battalkot Loran and Takiya Sharief Bhandichechian, TRCs at Surankot and Mendhar, waiting hall and additional accommodation for pilgrims at Battalkot Loran besides construction of cafeterias at Chakan-da-Bagh, Behramgala Noorichamb and BG Keller.She further said that Directorate of Tourism Jammu has also taken up various projects under state plan for development of tourism in Poonch district including infrastructure development at Ramkund temple Mendhar by way of PC, walkway, shelter shed, fencing and parking, development of wayside amenities from Chandak Mandi road besides construction of PC at Chandika Mata and MandiThe Minister said that Union Ministry of Tourism has also sanctioned a project “Loran Mandi” Poonch under Rural Tourism Scheme of PMRP in 2013-14 at a cost of Rs 65.59 lakhs out of which Rs 52.47 lakhs have been released and the project is under execution.