Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh today said that concerted efforts are on to bring up Jammu province as one of the major pilgrimage tourism spots. He said in this regard necessary mechanism has already been put in place to upgrade the existing infra and also create awareness across the country about the pilgrim tourism potential of Jammu region.The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking at inaugural function of the Mahashivratri festival at historic Kameshwar Shiv Temple in Akhnoor after paying obeisance there.Minister for Forests and Ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga, Vice Chairman Kissan Welfare Board D S Chib, Legislators, Sat Sharma, Rajiv Sharma and Dr Krishan Lal, Mahant Rameshwar Dass, prominent citizens of the area and senior officers of various departments were also present.Enumerating the steps being undertaken for tourism promotion, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Prime Minister’s Development Package envisions broad-based and holistic development of the tourism and the focus is also on ensuring that the Jammu division comes up as one of the major tourism destinations in the country. He said efforts are also on for bringing other unexplored areas on the tourism map of the region.
“This would also go a long way in promotion of the overall tourism in the Jammu division, which would in turn give fillip to the economy of the area by way of generating necessary job opportunities for the people related with tourist activities as well as the youth”, he maintained.The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Akhnoor area is of very great historical and cultural importance in the whole subcontinent and we have already set into motion the mechanism which would not only preserve its historicity but also ensure development of the area on modern lines especially in the tourism and other related sectors.Dr Singh said festivities serve as a great opportunity for the people to come together and celebrate these occasions in the spirit of harmony. He said that we should come together and pray for peace in our state and the whole world as well which is going through a phase of violence and hatred towards each other besides also propagating the concept of oneness.The Ministers and the legislators were felicitated by the organizers of the mela and they also spoke on the occasion.