Advisor Baseer Ahmad Khan inspects progress of Tourism projects in Jammu

Jammu : Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Khan today conducted an extensive tour of Jhajjar Kotli, Jammu Tawi Golf Club and Bagh-e-Bahu to inspect various projects being taken up by the Tourism Department under PMDP.The Advisor was accompanied by Director Tourism Jammu, R. K. Katoch; Director Floriculture, Jammu, K.S.Chib; Secretary, Jammu Tawi Golf Course, Lal Chand; Deputy Director Tourism (M&W) Mujib A. Tak; Assistant Director Tourism (M&W) Vijay Sharma along with senior officers of the concerned department.At Jhajhar Kotli, the Advisor inspected various upcoming tourist facilities under execution at an approved cost of Rs 539.66 lakh. The facilities included Suspension Bridge connecting the Island portion, renovation of the tourist cafeteria, parking with retaining wall, lightning, signages, tourist benches, pathways, landscaping, protection walls, toilet blocks and two number of single bed room eco-log huts etc.Director Tourism apprised the Advisor that an amount of Rs 335.05 lakhs has been incurred for executing the above works so far.The Advisor directed him to audit the executed work with regard to its quality.He also directed to take steps for maintaining the approach road of the Eco Huts as well as the availability of water, power etc.The Advisor expressed concern over slow pace of work in projects and asked to expedite the work on these projects for their timely completion, so that the area comes up as a major tourist attraction in Jammu.
Director Tourism was further directed to take up the matter regarding maintenance of the main park with the Director Floriculture, Jammu on priority.The Advisor asked the MD, JKTDC to put up a detailed proposal for maintenance of the Cafeteria/Bar Complex at Jhajhar Kotli.The Advisor further inspected five Eco-log Huts, Convention facilities, Recreation Hut constructed by the M&W Wing of Tourism Department at an estimated cost of Rs.280 lakhs at Jammu Tawi Golf Course.He also planted a Chinar sapling in the Golf Course and further directed the Secretary, Jammu Tawi Golf Course to put up a detailed proposal for outsourcing of the Huts and creation of various utilities in the Convention Hall and procure quality furniture and fixture for the said Centre.Also, the Secretary JTGC was directed to propose various Committees for better upkeep and management of the Golf Course with Golfers as its Members.The Advisor also inspected the prestigious “Musical Water Fountain with Light & Sound Show” project being taken up under PMDP at an approved cost of Rs 1000.55 lakhs at Bagh-e-Bahu.He directed the Director Tourism, Jammu to put up a detailed proposal in respect of all such necessary additional facilities required for completion of the project which have not been included in the original DPR like Power Sub-Station, Public Conveniences, View Cutter and few Kiosks for refreshment purposes. While giving timeline for its completion, the Advisor directed that the said project should be completed within a period of two month.He asked the Director Floriculture, Jammu to issue NOC with regard to the creation of all such additional facilities required for necessary commissioning/ successful running of the project.