Last Updated on December 21, 2020 at 5:57 pm
Even after the High Court directions, the tourism sector in Jammu region is not being handed with any proper strategy to promote areas which fall under the Directorate and Tourism Development Authorities. Moreover, most of the government entities don’t have their separate websites even when prospective tourists visit the web-pages of the Government to get authentic information about the places to visit and details about facilities available.
On November 2, 2020, Justice Rajesh Bindal passed strictures against the Tourism Department for not paying due attention towards tourism sector despite having immense potential, particularly in Jammu region. He had directed the Administrative Secretary of the Tourism Department and other concerned authorities to immediately organise a meeting and plan a strategy so that more tourists are attracted particularly towards Jammu region. Even after more than one and half months have passed still the department has not taken any proper steps.
Only Patnitop and Bhaderwah Development Authorities have their dedicated websites while Surinsar-Mansar Development Authority, Bani-Basohli Development Authority and Lakhanpur-Sarthal Development Authority, don’t have any.
Even the official website of the Tourism Department remains non-operational most of the times. In recent years, two ropeways have been constructed; one at Jammu and another at Patnitop. But the government didn’t promote these ropeways on the government websites.
Sources say that the Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation, which constructed ropeway connecting three ancient temples of Jamwant Gufa Peerkho, Mahamaya Temple and Bahu Fort Temple, doesn’t have a dedicated website. Patnitop ropeway is being promoted only by the company which constructed it but Government is not putting many efforts for it.
While the website of the Tourism Department doesn’t work most of the times, Directorate of Tourism Jammu’s website does not have information about any of the cable car/rope way projects in Jammu. It is important to mention that Jammu is famous for ancient temples and Hindu shrines.
Many tourism sector projects sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Development Package for the Jammu region several years back are not executed properly. Moreover, there is no proper follow-up of the projects which were sent to the Government of India for funding under Phase-II of the PMDP.
The Phase-I projects are meant for development of tourist facilities at Jhajjar Kotli, Bhagwati Nagar, Siarh Baba Reasi, Suchetgarh, Pul Doda and Pancheri etc. Phase-II projects are aimed for creation of tourist facilities near Ranjit Sagar dam, river rafting and allied facilities at Baradari in Reasi, development of catchment area of Baglihar dam near Batote and establishment of amusement park near Jambu Zoo in Nagrota.
