Chrar-e-Sharief (Budgam): People of Chrarai Sharief , Pakherpora ,Yusmarg , Goggi- Pathri ,Nilag and Buzgoo are aghast over non inclusion of Yusmarg – Nilnag and Yusmarg – Bargah ropeway in the list of recently sanctioned battery of 18 Ropeways in various areas of jammu and kashmir by the Administrative Council . They have maintained , though construction of two ropeway one each in Loran Poonch to Tossamaidan and
Sitharant to Tossamaidan in district Budgam was a welcome step but ignoring famous Yusmarg tourist resort in the ambitious ropeway construction plan was very heart wrenching for the people of Chrarai Sharief , Pakherpora ,Yusmarg , Goggi Pathri , Buzgoo , Nilag and other stake holders . They said construction of Cable car project from Yusmarg to Nilnag and Yusmarg to Bargah meadows was approved in the 5th meeting of Yusmarg Development Authority ( YDA) way back in 2013 . They said the Administrative Council has sanctioned ropeways even for lesser known destinations and unreasonably ignored much needed Yusmarg -Nilnag and Yusmarg Bargah ropeway . Yusmarg , besides bieng one of the most favoured calm and uncongested tourist distination , also offers superb pilgrim tourism potential as it was nestled with the shrines of reverred sufi saints including Hazrat Shiekh Noor-ud-Din Wali ( RA) at Chrari Sharief and Sultan Ali Aali Bulkhi at Pakherpora .
The people of the area have made a fervent appeal to Lieutenant Governor ( L G) Manoj Sinha to personally intervene in the matter so that a ropeway project is also sanctioned from Yusmarg to Nilnag and Yusmarg to Bargag meadows. Worthwhile to mention , Administrative Council its recent Decision No. 373 – PW( R&B) of 2023 Dated 06-09-2023 has approved an ambitious multi crore central project under countrywide Parvat Mala initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways , to develop a comprehensive ropeway network including union territory of Jammu and Kashmir also , to benefit all sections of the population and to boost tourism activities in a big way . These ropeway projects also include Loran Poonch to Tossamaidan ropeway ,
Sitharant to Tossamaidan in Budgam ,Makhdoom Sahib to Hariparbat ,Shankar Acharya ropeway , Baltal to Amarnath cave ,Sonamarg to Thajiwas ,Wullar to Baba Shukur-ud-Din ,Pahalgam to Baisaran ,Dubjan to Peer ki Gali ,Sonamarg to Kishansar etc.
The people and stakeholders have alleged that the department tasked by the Government to identify locations for proposed ropeways under Parvatmala initiative of the Ministry Road Transport and Highways , has conducted an unrealistic survey , most probably while sitting inside the ivory towers and not assessing the requirements at the ground level . That can be reason , the most important tourist resort like Yusmarg , could have been left in the list of proposed ropeways in Jammu and Kashmir . “This aspect needs to be investigated to fix responsibility for negligent and non serious approach of the concerned department , the people have demanded.
Highlighting the importance of Yusmarg tourist resort ,the people said Yusmarg or Yousmarg (meaning ‘Meadow of Jesus’) is a hill station which provides space for beautiful landscapes, young pine nurseries, green pastures and heart touching lotic and lentic water bodies. Nilnag, Doodhganga and a nascently created artificial dam adds more to the beauty of the meadows. Nature has bestowed Yoususmarg with pleasant flora and fauna. They said Nilnag , a high-altitude lake, nestled amidst dense pine forest , in the close vicinity of Yusmarg ,is is one of the top places for tourists to visit . The blue waters of this sparkling lake and the picturesque surroundings of towering pine trees and snow-capped mountains makes this place a must-visit. They said Nilnag also offers a great opportunity of trekking to the adventure lovers.
