Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today said that she has directed her Government to promote Kargil as a separate package in the tourism market.
Addressing a well-attended public meeting here after laying the foundation of two road projects, the Chief Minister said Nature has bestowed Kargil with unique features which ought to be sold as a separate package. She said the area has some of world’s tallest Buddhist icons which once connected to the Bhuddist tourist circuit would increase the tourist footfall by great measure.Similarly, the Chief Minister said villages like Bimbut, Hundurman and other places can be developed under Border tourism and also the memorials of Kargil war could attract a large number of visitors. She added sports like river rafting and Polo have a great scope to be developed and promoted as an attraction.The Chief Minister yesterday reviewed the functioning of Kargil and Zanaskar Tourism Development Authorities and directed seeking expert guidance for promoting the tourism potential in these areas. She had also directed involving travel agents, bloggers, writers etc. for the purpose.Responding to local demands, the Chief Minister announced upgradation of a local school to a Higher Secondary School. She also announced exploring the possibility of opening up of a nursing school in the area.
She said she has directed conducting a survey of Panikhar-Kishtwar road by the R&B Department and covering of un-electrified villages with power distribution.She said integrated courses would be started at the Satellite campus of Kashmir University and more streams would be added to the curriculum.On the occasion, the Chief Minister laid the foundation of upgradation of 18.10 kilometre Brakoo-Itchu road to be developed at a cost of Rs. 21.97 crore. The road project is expected to be completed by next financial year.Mehbooba Mufti also laid the foundation of 10.10 kilometre long Photang-Karsha-Sari Zanaskar circular road which would be built at a cost of Rs. 18 crore and would also be completed by next fiscal.At Khumbathang, the Chief Minister announced modernisation of the local hospital and creation of an Education zone for the area. She also directed exploring possibility of constructing bridge at Tresspone over Suru river.Mehbooba Mufti thanked the people for the love and affection they showed while receiving her.Enroute, people had lined up on the two sides of the road to welcome the Chief Minister. Children dressed in colourful attrires were seen showering flower petals on the Chief Minister wherever she came across them.Chairman, Legislative Council, Haji Anayat Ali; Minister for R&B, Naeem Akhtar; Minister for Education, Syed Altaf Bukhari; MLA, Zanaskar, Agha Baqir Rizvi; CEC, LAHDC, Kargil, Kachoo Ahmad Ali also addressed the public meetings.