In an effort to promote eco-tourism and to assess public demands for the promotion of tourist destination Dumgali, a day-long public interaction cum tourism promotion programme was today organised by District Administration at Quilmuqam Bandipora. The programme was attended by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Shakeel-ul Rehman; DDC Vice Chairperson, Kounsar Shafeeq; DDC Aaloosa, Mewa Jan; ACR Bandipora, Ex. Engineers of R&B and PHE, Tehsildar Aaloosa, BDO Aaloosa, Assistant Director Tourism and Tourism scholar Shabnum Bashir Gojjar besides other sectoral officers and locals and youth of the area.
The participants were welcomed by singing songs by students and locals donning remarkable traditional attires depicting the local culture of the area. On the occasion, the DC inaugurated Home-Stay registered with the Tourism Department at Quilmuqam. It was given out that with this inauguration, 48 home stays have been made functional at the various tourist destinations in Sumbal and Bandipora to promote local livelihood means and eco & sustainable tourism.
Speaking on the occasion, Shakeel-ul Rehman said that the main objective of these home-stays is to promote local livelihood means, preserve tourist destinations and to facilitate tourists visiting the areas without resorting to construction of concrete permanent structures having harmful impact on the environment.
He further added that these home-stays will generate employment opportunities and shall also facilitate tourists visiting the interconnected tourist destinations like Dumgali, Bude Dumgali, Danna, Lashkoot, Narmarg and Chaandajji. During the public interaction programme, representatives of the local areas demanded road connectivity from Quilmuqam to Dumgali and Hapatnar, Lift irrigation scheme for Reshkul to be fed from Bonnar Nallah to cater the irrigation problems, dedicated playground for the youth of Quilmuqam, shifting of Tehsil Office Aaloosa on the main road and augmentation of mobile & internet connectivity in the area.
The DC gave a patient hearing to all the public issues and issued on the spot directions to the officers for the settlement of the genuine concerns in a time-bound manner. Rs. 06 lakh were approved on the spot for the installation of pumps for feeding Reshkul. He directed ExEn PHE to make these 02 pumps functional as early as possible.
DC also directed ACD and BDO Aaloosa to identify suitable land in the area for the development of a playground. He also directed ExEn R&B Bandipora to chalk out the ways and ensure inclusion of the Quilmuqam -Dumgali and Hapatnar road in the next year NABARD plan. With regard to the shifting of Tehsil Office to a suitable location on the main road, DC directed ACR Bandipora and Tehsildar Aloosa to submit a detailed report within weeks' time.
On the occasion, DC urged the locals to ensure their cooperation and commitment for the promotion of the tourist spots like Dumgali & Dalwa in the area. He sought public support and participation in the successful implementation of the ongoing project like the Macadamization of roads, projects under JJM, electricity, and infrastructural development.
Earlier in the morning, a trekking expedition of 20 students was flagged-off by ADDC Bandipora, M Ashraf Bhat for the exploration of Dumgali and Dalwa tourist destinations.