Tourism plays an important role in the economy of the State of Jammu and Kashmir as it is bestowed with captivating sceneries and has a huge potential in tourism sector. There is a need to tap the untouched vistas using innovative techniques to bring them on the tourist map of the state.Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh said this after laying the foundation stone of 14 Km road project from Sukrala to Najot under PMGSY with an estimated cost of Rs 14.5 crore.Dr Singh said that not only mountains and fountains should be developed as scenic spots but shrines and temples of the State also have a high potential to be developed as pilgrimage tourist spots and Government has already launched initiatives in this regard at various religious spots across the state.Dr Nirmal Singh also paid obeisance at Shri Mata Sukrala Devi Shrine and prayed for peace, harmony and prosperity of the nation. Deputy Chief Minister also interacted with the devotees at the shrine and asked them about cleanliness and sanitation in and around the shrine. He also reviewed the arrangements made by the administration for Navratra festival at the holy shrine.
Later, the Deputy Chief Minister also attended a function organized by Shri Guru Ravi Dass Sabha, Bhagocha Chak to celebrate the Prakash Utsav of Guru Ravi Dass Ji in the presence of Sant Gurdeep Giri Ji at village Bhaiya of Hiranagar and laid foundation stone of Community Facilitation Centre, which is to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 20 lakh.At the outset, Dr Singh said that to realize the dream of New India, every citizen has to rise above the chains of caste, creed and prevalent social orders. He also said that Nationalism is important before everything if we want to see our state on the path of progress.“22 PMGSY roads at the cost of Rs 102 crore are only earmarked for Billawar besides many other game changing project which will make Billawar not only a model constituency but also improve the socio economic conditions of the people,” said Deputy Chief Minister adding, that all round development is going on at every sphere whether it is Education, Healthcare, PDD, PHE, Sports, tourism and many others.Deputy Chief Minister urged the people to maintain peace and brotherhood in the society as it is prerequisite for development and stressed on abolishing various social evils to make our society a better place to live.Among others, Vice Chairman of J&K State Advisory Board for Welfare & Development of OBCs, Rashpaul Verma, MLA Hiranagar Kuldeep Raj, DC Kathua Ramesh Kumar, SSP Kathua Pawan Parihar, ACD Kathua Pardeep Manhas, SDM Hiranagar, BDOs, senior officers and members of civil society in large numbers were present on the occasion.