Principal Secretary Tourism, Industries and Commerce, Navin K Choudhary today reviewed progress on tourism development works taken up by Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) and Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority (SMDA) here at two separate back to back meetings.Reviewing the performance of Patnitop Development Authority, the Principal Secretary sought detailed report on the works taken up, completed and under construction.The meeting was attended by Director Tourism Jammu, Deepika K Sharma; Chief Executive Officer Patnitop Development Authority, Pran Singh and other concerned officials.The concerned authorities informed about the ongoing projects of PDA like Integrated Development of Mantalai-Sudhmahadev-Patnitop under PMDP, Creation of 3.15 MVA, 33/11 KVA receiving station for Patnitop Ropeway, Solid Waste Convertor plant at Patnitop, revision of Master Plan, creation of parking places outside Patnitop health resort etc.The Principal Secretary directed the officials to complete the formulation of master plan before January 31, 2020. He further asked them to make the street lights fully functional around the health resort at the earliest.Navin Choudhary impressed upon the officials not to allow commercial vehicles into the vicinity of Patnitop health resort and complete the land fencing, installation of LED lights, solar geysers and lights at the earliest for the convenience of the tourists.
The Principal Secretary further stressed upon the officials to complete all pending projects in a time bound manner.Meanwhile, Navin Choudhary reviewed the performance of Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority (SMDA) at another meeting.The meeting was attended by Director Tourism Jammu, Anu Malhotra , Chief Executive Officer SMDA Nagendra Singh Jamwal and other officers.The meeting discussed in detail the status of ongoing developmental works and issues related to transfer of land for bus stand, transfer of land for park and other related issues.The Principal Secretary directed the concerned officials to resolve all the issues at the earliest to fast pace the developmental works.Navin Choudhary inquired about the Aquarium proposed for Surinsar. He asked the SMDA to hire a leading consultant in the field to develop a state-of-art aquarium to attract the tourists to the area.The Principal Secretary also directed the officials to construct a new market building for the rehabilitation of shopkeepers, who were affected by various projects around the twin lakes, besides asking them for fencing the area under SMDA.