Div Com (J) tours Patnitop tourism circuit

Jammu: Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Raghav Langer Friday conducted an extensive tour of Patnitop and inspected the tourist facilities in the Jammu division’s famous tourist destination.
He also reviewed the pace of progress on Tourism development projects and functioning of Patnitop Development Authority at a meeting attended by District Development Commissioner, Ramban, Mussarat -Ul Islam; Chief Executive Officer, Patnitop Development Authority, Sher Singh; Additional Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur Mohammad Syed Khan; ASP, Udhampur, Anwar Ul-Haq; Joint Director Tourism, SE PWD, Shakti Sagar, GM JKTDC besides representatives of NHIDCL, NPCC and other concerned officers of various departments.
The CEO Patnitop Development Authority gave a detailed powerpoint presentation on the present status of all the ongoing development projects/works executed for development of tourism facilities in Patnitop, Mantalai, Sudmahadev under Swadesh Darshan Scheme and PM’s Development Package.
The Divisional Commissioner reviewed in detail progress on the projects coming up in Mantalai including Tourist facilitation centre, dining centre/ cafeteria, eco log huts with solariums integrated into cottage design, Meditation enclaves in apple orchard; helipad, ambulance shed, fire tender, wind vane, open air amphitheater with green rooms, landscaping, beautification of premises, Parking area with gender based toilets, security check posts, guard rooms, sewage Treatment plant, water treatment plant, battery operated cars, installation of signages.
The meeting also reviewed the works executed in Sudhmahadev and Patnitop, including Tourist Cafeteria with toilets, hall, solar lighting, benches, convention centre with lounge at Patnitop, clock rooms, gender based toilets, solar lightings, Solid Waste Management, last mile connectivity and pathways, construction of budget accommodation at Kud.
The concerned officers also apprised the Divisional Commissioner about the present status of work on each component of the project. It was informed that most of the works have been completed while work was in progress on all pending components of the project.
The CEO PDA, while highlighting the achievements, informed that for providing safe and affordable accommodation to the tourists a budget accommodation has been developed at Kud at a total cost of Rs 294 lakh on which the work is complete. The building has 14 bed rooms with attached washrooms, 1 restaurant and other facilities besides work on solid waste management plant has also been completed. He further informed that work on rain shelter cum café shop, de- weeding, de- silting paved path, illumination, construction of cafeteria, bathrooms at Nathatop has also been completed.
The Divisional Commissioner directed all the concerned officers to maintain close inter-departmental coordination and work with dedication to complete all the ongoing works being executed by their respective departments for timely completion. He also passed directions for resolving issues/ bottlenecks, if any.
He said that the Patnitop circuit has potential for eco-tourism, adventure tourism and directed the concerned departments to explore possibilities of developing more such facilities to increase the tourist footfall and to make Patnitop one of the best tourist destinations of J&K.
The Divisional Commissioner also reviewed in detail Water, power scenario, road connectivity, traffic management, land acquisition.
The concerned executive engineers apprised the Div Com about the progress of work on the projects implemented to augment the water, power infrastructure at Patnitop.
The Div Com directed SE PWD to resolve the land requisition issue of the approach road of Krimchi Temple immediately. The CEO PDA , DFO and SDM were directed to ascertain the status of land involved for construction of approach road to sewerage treatment plant.
Pollution control board functionaries of Udhampur and Ramban were directed to carry out the verification of sewerage line connection, capacity and other parameters of the project.
The CEO PDA was asked to hold a joint meeting with SDM, Tehsildar and other field functionaries to ascertain the facts related to law and order encroachment and other activities.
The CEO was asked to up-grade communication and inquiry setup at the tourist facilitation centre for responding to the queries of tourists coming to Patnitop.