Jammu to have an artificial lake soon:
Minister for Tourism and Culture, Jammu & Kashmir.

Jammu, November 26 - Jammu will soon have an artificial lake on the banks of River Tawi from Jogi Gate to Sidhre. Stating this while interacting with the members of All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association (AJHLA), Jammu here this afternoon, the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora shared that this artificial lake is being jointly developed by Irrigation and Tourism Departments of Jammu & Kashmir. He said that while development of the water body has been entrusted to Irrigation Department, the beautification in and around the lake will be taken up by the Tourism Department. This tourist attraction would attract more people especially, Mata Vaishno Devi Yatries to extend their stay in the city of temples to enjoy its scenic beauty, he added.

Secretary, Tourism and Culture, President AJHLA, Jammu and other members of the Association besides senior officers of Tourism Department attended the meeting.

The Minister said that all the available resources are being exploited to develop world class tourism infrastructure in Jammu. He said that promotion of heritage tourism is high on the agenda of the Government under which historic Mubarak Mandi is being conserved and beautified at a whopping sum of Rs 294 crore. The Internationally reputed Heritage Conservation Consultancy has been roped in for documentation of the heritage.

He said that the Ropeway Project from Bahu Fort to Mubarak Mandi has also been approved to be executed by a reputed consultancy RITES, which would come here next week. He said that the consultancy will make necessary realignments and additions and alterations in the already conceived project. The project will be tendered immediately after completion of alignment work.

Similarly the first phase of 18 hole world class Sidhra Golf Course would tee-off in next month to give boost to the golf tourism in Jammu division. He said three tourists circuits at a cost of over Rs 20 crore including Lakhanpur-Basholi-Bani-Bhaderwah, Kishtwar-Sarthal and Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch are being developed on fast track to boost tourism related activities in Jammu division.

The Minister said that six Development Authorities have been sanctioned for development of Mansar-Surinsar, Patnitop, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch to exploit vast tourism potential and to develop basic tourism infrastructure in these areas. An amount of Rs 120 crore has been allotted to these Development Authorities under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan for creation of tourism infrastructure.

The Minister made it amply clear that there would be no discrimination with any part of the State with regard to promotion of tourism, adding that each and every part of the State has its unique tourism potential, which would be exploited optimally.

The Minister sought cooperation of the people associated with tourism trade to supplement Jammu & Kashmir Government’s endeavour in implementing various tourism promotion schemes, adding that their suggestions would be taken well.