Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Culture, Tourism, Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks, Priya Sethi has said that Shiv Khori Ropeway project would give a fillip to tourism and economy of the state and will increase the tourist footfall in the region.The Minister said this after inspecting the proposed site of the ropeway project at Kotla in Reasi today.Deputy Commissioner Reasi Ravinder Kumar accompanied the Minister during her visit.Speaking on the occasion, Priya Sethi said the ropeway project will add a new feather in the cap of tourism sector in the state. She said it would also provide job opportunities to the locals and will help the people of the area to improve their socio-economic status besides providing better connectivity to Shiv Khori Shrine.Responding to the demand of the locals, Priya Sethi said assured them of early completion of the project and asked the Deputy Commissioner to complete the process of acquiring land for the same at the earliest.
The Minister further directed Tourism department to take necessary steps for the development of Shiv Khori as a religious tourist spot as it has great religious importance.Earlier, the Minister held a meeting with the district officers and reviewed the achievements registered by various departments. Detailed deliberations were held on black-topping of Kanda to Ransoo road, establishment of taxi stand at Ransoo, development of parks at Ransoo- the Base camp of Shiv Khori shrine and others.Priya Sethi also listened to the problems of the people of the area in a public grievance redressal camp organized at Kotla where people apprised her about their problems and also put forth their demands including blacktopping of Kanda to Kotla road, sanctioning higher secondary school for Ransoo, augmenting drinking water in Kotla and adjoining areas. The Minister asked the officers to organize Mobile schools for the children of Gujjar community.
The Minister assured the people for early redress of their grievances and asked the officers to resolve their problems at the earliest.Regarding the shortage of staff in the schools, she assured the people that all possible steps would be taken to rationalize the teaching staff according to the number of students studying in a particular institution. She also directed the officers of Horticulture and Floriculture department to organize awareness camps about various government schemes for creating awareness among the people.Later, Priya Sethi visited High School Kotla and interacted with the students and took stock of the various facilities being made available to the students.Among others, SSP Reasi Tahir Bhat, Joint Director Floriculture Pran Dullo, CEO Vinod Kumar Soni, Executive Officer SKSB Mahesh Sharma, Executive Engineers PWD, PHE, PDD, AD Tourism Katra Umesh Shan and other district officers were present on the occasion.