Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 25: Mocking at the tall claims of the successive governments on tourism promotion, a sharp decline in financial assistance-received from Union government for tourism projects-has been recorded for the last three years, which is worrisome for economically fragile state.
Interestingly, an amount of Rs. 16.91 Crores was provided under CFA sector for conservation/restoration of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex, Jammu as a mega tourist destination in the financial year 2012-13 but for the next two financial years no funds were sanctioned.
According to recent data provided by Tourism department, a total of Rs 113.11 Crores in the form of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) was provided by Ministry of Tourism for financial year 2012-13 for the development of tourism infrastructure in state under various schemes.
A sharp decline was recorded for the next two financial years with only Rs. 85.46 Crores was provided under CFA for financial year 2013-14, and Rs. 8.63 Crores for 2014-15. Out of total Rs. 207.21 Crores provided to state for three years, Kashmir region received Rs. 114.61 Crores, Jammu province Rs. 83.47 Crores and Leh/Ladakh only Rs. 9.12 Crores.
The Jammu province received Rs. 43.44 Crores for 2012-13 but for the same period Kashmir province received Rs. 61.15 Crores but for next financial year 2013-14 Jammu received Rs. 39.36 Crores and Kashmir received 45.47 Crores and in the financial year 2014-15 Jammu received a meagre amount of Rs. 65 Lakhs and Kashmir received Rs. 7.97 Crores.
The Leh/Ladakh region was provided very scanty amount to the tune of Rs. 8.5 Crores for financial year 2011-12, an amount of Rs. 62 Lakhs for 2012-13 and no further funds for financial year 2014-15.
Other developmental projects of Jammu region were development of tourism infrastructure at Mansar, Jammu by Surinsar- Mansar Development Authority for which an amount of Rs. 455.79 lakhs was provided.
Other projects are development of Darhal as Base camp & Shaker Marg as Gateway of Tourist Destination of Pir Panjal Phase - I, development of different locations falling in Billawar, Basholi and Bani areas-Phase II (Peedi, Mahanpur Morh, Phinter, Kharkal, Kardo, Rehani, Khajjar, Chandel, Machedi, Gujroo, Nagrota, Ramkot Billawar) by Lakhanpur Development Authority, Mughal Road lake Circuit Infrastructure Development of Girgan, the Valley of Seven Lakes, Poonch, Jammu by Pooch Development Authority, development of Sanasar - Nathatop Tourist Destination, Jammu by Patnitop Development Authority beside others. |
