Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh today said that government is focusing on developing places of religious and historic importance in Jammu region to promote pilgrim tourism adding that concerted steps are apace to develop requisite tourist infrastructure at these sites.The Minister said this while addressing a function organised at Jio Pota in Akhnoor to mark the 196th Raj Tilak Divas of Maharaja Gulab Singh.MLA Rajeev Sharma, MLC Yuvraj Vikramaditya Singh, Rajkumar Martand Singh, Ex-Ministers Sham Lal Sharma, Th. Gulchain Singh Charak and Kanta Andotra, Chairman Pollution Control Board Ravi Kesar, Director Forest Protection Force, Asif Mehmood, Thakur K.P Singh Chairman Raj Tilak Celebration Committee, Chief Conservator of Forests Farooq Gillani, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sunaina Sharma besides other senior officers of Forests, Wild Life, Police and civil administration were present on the occasion.Ch Lal Singh exhorted upon the people to take inspiration from the great people who have left indelible marks in every sphere of activity by dint of their selfless services. He said that glorious heritage of the State stands testimony to the fact that the people lived in a spirit of togetherness and harmony.“This spirit is to be imbibed in the younger generation so that Jammu and Kashmir becomes a great legacy of the ancestors who environed it as an abode of peace and tranquillity,” he added.
The Minister said that efforts are being made to draw pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi shrine to other tourist destinations of the region particularly in Akhnoor town. He informed that Government has spent adequate funds for creating various infrastructure facilities for tourists and pilgrims at Jio Pota, adding that Government intends to promote water-sports tourism on river Chenab in Akhnoor.Ch Lal Singh said that instructions have been issued to concerned authorities to fast track conservation and protection works of historical monuments and sites of the Akhnoor town. He said fillip in State’s tourism is embedded in linking it with cultural distinctiveness of the State, which can attract tourists to the State.The Minister said that all the regions of the State have their own distinct identity and cultural heritage, which is being protected and showcased as heritage attraction. He said restoration and conservation work of several heritage sites in Akhnoor tehsil including famous Akhnoor Fort, Jio Pota Ghat, Terra Cotta, Buddhist monuments at Ambaran, Pandow Gufa, Sumah, Jio Pota Library is on. He said development of the right bank of Chenab river as heritage site has also been taken up and huge funds are being expended on the restoration and conservation of these heritage sites in the area.
Responding to the demand projected by the people Choudhary Lal Singh informed that directions have been issued to the concerned executing agency for establishment of Maharaja Gulab Singh library in the town adding that for this purpose Government has released Rs. 97 lakh for timely completion of the project. He said that this will be an important step to help people get to know about the history of the state.Speaking on the occasion, MLA Akhnoor Rajeev Sharma said that Jammu and Kashmir is known for its scenic splendor across the globe and maintained that there are lot of unexplored beautiful areas which need to be projected at the national and international levels for attracting tourist and pilgrims. He said that Government is making all out efforts to bring Jio Pota area of Akhnoor on tourism map of the state.MLC Vikramaditya Singh highlighted the importance of Jio-Pota where historic Raj Tilak ceremony was performed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh for anointment of Gulab Singh.Lal Singh said that the present Government is making every effort to restore the pristine glory of heritage sites and steps are being taken to show case these to attract tourists and increase their stay in the state, particularly the pilgrims tourists of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji, Shri Amarnath ji and Shivkhori shrine.Later, the Minister inaugurated renovated Forest Rest House which was built by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1940s.Choudhary Lal Singh also distributed appointment order under SRO-43 and promotion orders among 19 employees.Earlier, the Minister kick started plantation drive of 40000 Chinar trees and 30000 fruit plants.