A day long Panchan Pathri Eco tourism festival was today organized in Kulgam District by District Administration Kulgam and J&K Forest Department.The festival was attended by DDC Chairperson Mohammad Afzal, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat, Conservator of Forests, Kashmir South Circle Irfan Ali Shah Divisional Forest Officer Kulgam Syed Wasim and other Forest Officers, Police Officers, BDC members of different constituencies of Kulgam District. About 8000 people from different walks of life participated in the festival.
During the festival, different eco-friendly activities were organized including Tug of War, Forest walks, Bird Watching, fun games and Polythene free Forest activity.At the outset, the programme was kick started with a plantation drive. About 600 School children from 20 different schools of Kulgam District participated in this activity.The Conservator of Forests, South Kashmir Irfan Ali Shah in his address informed that Kulgam District has huge potential for Eco-tourism and shall be developed as an Eco-tourism hotspot in collaboration with District Administration.
He said Forest department has opened up 4 Trek Routes for nature lovers of Kulgam District and new trek routes including cherenbal, Nuspathri will be developed and opened up soon in District Kulgam so that local people will get benefitted and develop a new connect with the forests.He also informed that Forest Department will organise skill development and Training camps for local youth as Trek guides, which will generate employment for them for strengthening of Eco-tourism initiatives.
He directed for installation of awareness hoardings and banners at prime places in Kulgam District and at all potential tourist places of Kulgam for raising awareness about various Forestry based Government initiatives for welfare of people and better development of Forests. He also informed that an Eco-development camp will be organized by the Forest Department in collaboration with District Administration at famous tourist place Kounser-Nag very soon.
He informed that construction of Forest Inspection Hut at Aharbal, the famous tourist place, has been completed and is ready to be available for online booking for Eco-tourism activities. He said that this Forest Inspection Hut will act as base camp for Gurwattan-Kounser Nag Trekking Route.A5 the end, he thanked the District Administration for their full support to the Forest Department initiatives in District Kulgam.