A meeting of Department Related Standing Committee (DRSC-II) of J&K Legislative Council was held here today under the Chairmanship of MLC, Naresh Kumar Gupta to review the overall functioning of Tourism Department and JK Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC).Legislators, Ramesh Arora, Ghulam Nabi Monga and QaiserJamsheed Lone also attended the meeting.Threadbare discussions were held on overall working of the Tourism Department, JK Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) and other Development Authorities to increase efforts in order to attract more and more tourists to the State for the promotion of the tourism sector across the State.The meeting also discussed various other issues of Tourism Development Authorities, steps taken to popularise new tourist destinations, promotion of pilgrim tourism and their future development, preservation of heritage buildings, status of TRCs and other Tourist Facilitation Centres.The Committee expressed its displeasure regarding slow pace of work of ongoing Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex and directed the concerned authorities to speed up the completion of the project in the next financial year.The meeting also discussed the status of various cable car projects, steps being taken to promote tourism along the historic Forts, besides promoting eco-tourism and other adventure tourism activities in the state.
The Committee was informed that the first trial of Jammu Cable Car Project from Bahu Fort-Mahamaya -Peer Khoo will be held byMarch, 31 2018 and 2nd phase trial in the month of July, 2018.The Committee also sought report of the status of ongoing works at Tourism Circuit Lakhanpur, Ranjeet Sagar Dam, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah and installation of Water Jetty at Pul Doda in the next meeting.The Committee directed the Tourism department to submit a comprehensive report the facilities being provided to the Machail Yatra Pilgrims.Secretary, Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez, Managing Director, JKSCCL Shamim Ahmed Wani briefed the Committee about the Budget allocation, financial status of Tourist Destinations, Development, Schemes sanctioned by the State and Government of India under various flagship programmes including under 12 FC, 13 FC, 14 FC and PM’s under Prime Minister’s Special including circuits etc during 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 ongoing projects being executing by the department in detail.Besides, the functioning of development authorities and JKTDC was also discussed briefly during the meeting.Among others Senior Officers of Tourism Department, JKTDC besides, Council Secretariat were also present in the meeting.