Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology Ch Lal Sinhg today said that government has decided to go for a major facelift of Gateway of Jammu & Kashmir, Lakhanpur to attract tourists and project its geostrategic importance.The Minister said this while kick starting the repair of 1 Km road from New Toll Post towards Old Toll Post Lakhanpur to be executed by Road & Building department at an estimated cost of Rs. 60 Lakhs.The Minister said that development works being undertaken in the border town include repair of roads, increasing green space, creating tourist amenities besides maintaining cleanliness & hygiene in and around the main town area.Landscaping and construction of tiled path, toilet block, afforestation on available land, installing bust of Maharaja Hari Singh besides proper illumination would be undertaken in a phased manner, he said adding that the face lifting of Lakhanpur will help in increasing tourist footfall besides improving the socio-economic profile of the locals.Ch Lal Singh also inspected the progress on the construction of bridge and road passing through village Danna.
He directed the Executive Engineer, PWD to build drainage system meeting the needs of local people besides raising protection bunds along the rivulet to protect permanent structures of the villagers.The Minister said that development is imperative for improving the socio-economic condition of the people along with appropriate social, political and economic initiatives.He further said that strengthening road connectivity is the priority of the Government under which linking with far flung areas will get a fillip in a phased manner. He said it is the collective responsibility of the people to take care of public assets as these are made for their convenience. The Minister directed PWD to take into account the need of drains and embankments.Regional Director PCB, Showkat Chaudhary, Conservator East Circle, Kh. Qamardin, DC Excise Lakhanpur, Vishesh Pal Mahajan, ASP Kathua, Sanjay Parihar, DFOs, DM SFC, Mohd. Rafi, XEN PWD Kathua, D K Rampaul and other district officers were present on the occasion.