J&K WITNESSING GOLDEN PERIOD: LG

Young minds have instinctive attraction to ideals of peace, selfless service, progress of the society: LG

10/04/2022

SRINAGAR, Apr 9: Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a golden period as 80 lakh tourists visited the Union Territory in the last few months, a record in the last 15 to 20 years, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said here on Saturday.
He also highlighted several initiatives of the government to boost tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
"I think this is the golden period for Jammu and Kashmir in which all the records of the last 15-20 years have been broken. More than 80 lakh tourists arrived here in the last few months. This has brought prosperity and is helping people establish peace," Sinha told reporters here.
The LG flagged off an event titled "Athwas", a unique partnership between citizens and authorities for the rejuvenation of the Dal lake. Under the project, de-weeding and dredging of the waterbody will be carried out in collaboration with the citizens.
"Several activities are happening (on the tourism front), 3,500 shikaras row the lake each day and I think no activity can be bigger than that. Around 400-500 (tourists) arrive here every day. The number of flights has increased. For some, it is difficult to get a ticket to Srinagar just two-three days before (the travel date). Hotels are booked. We are thinking about having more hotels here," Sinha said.
He said the Dal lake has become cleaner and will be restored to its pristine glory soon.
"The people as well as the administration here have vowed to keep clean the Dal lake, which is the cultural and historical heritage of the city. People from the world over want to visit the lake. The average citizen now feels that the lake has become cleaner than before.
"There are provisions for Rs 136 crore in the budget for cleaning the lake. Money had come before as well, but I do not think it was utilised as it is being done now. The lake has become better and the change is visible," Sinha said.
He added that money has been deposited in the DBT mode into the accounts of those cleaning the lake, which has led to a change in their economic and social lives and also ensured the cleaning of the lake on a war footing.
About the recent fire incidents in which a few houseboats were gutted, the LG said a provision has been kept in the Smart City project to provide immediate relief in case of fire incidents in the lake.
On the Smart City project for Srinagar, he said the administration is working on the need to protect the city's inheritance and also to provide modern amenities.
"When you will be able to ride a cycle along the banks of the Jhelum, sip coffee and enjoy free internet for half an hour, you will surely bring us sweets," Sinha said.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today addressed hundreds of enthusiastic youths, citizens of North Kashmir at the "Sahi Raasta" programme organized by the Chinar Corps in Pattan, Baramulla.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor said that Young minds have an instinctive attraction to ideals of peace, selfless service, and progress of the society. And the J&K administration has taken many steps to create supportive infrastructure, schemes and policies to meet the aspirations of young population.
Entrepreneurship and employment opportunities are showing spectacular growth, tourism is expanding by leaps and bounds, the Lt Governor observed.
The Lt Governor further said that J&K has a large pool of excellent human resources and a favourable demographic profile, which is receiving more and more attention from India Inc, interested to transform UT's economic landscape.
It is necessary to foil underground as well as over ground extremist ideological campaign, which is involved in misguiding our youth. Young people and entire community have a huge responsibility to isolate and expose those justifying or condoning terrorism, the Lt Governor stressed.
Calling "Sahi Raasta" program as a life changing process, the Lt Governor said it is an opportunity to turn dreams of youth into reality showing them the right path to live a virtuous and successful life.
The Lt Governor said that before 2019 the youth of J&K were deliberately denied opportunities by a few vested interests.
Under the leadership of the Hon'ble Prime Minister, in August 2019, Jammu and Kashmir entered a new era of governance. We are addressing critical areas of reforms for speeding up investment and growth, the Lt Governor said.
Terming peace and harmony as preconditions for development, the Lt Governor lauded the Army and the security forces for their sustained efforts towards maintaining peace and also bringing misguided youth back on to the right path.
The 'Sahi Raasta' initiative by the Chinar Corps in collaboration with UT administration and civil society aims to bring the misguided youth back to normal life and provide them opportunities for a bright future and removing their misconceptions via interactions and counseling with expert mentors.
On the occasion, various mentors of the programme including SSP Baramulla and other young achievers were felicitated by the Lt Governor.
While speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen DP Pandey, GOC Chinar Corps talked briefly about the 'Sahi Raasta' initiative and the participants that have benefitted from it.
Maj General S S Salaria, GoC Kilo Force; Sh B K Singh, Principal Secretary School Education; Brigadier Alok Dash, Commandant 10 Sector; Sh. R R Swain, Special DG CID; Sh Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir; Sh Udhay Bhaskar Billa, DIG North; Sh Bhupinder Kumar, DC Baramulla; Sh.Rayees Mohammad Bhat, SSP Baramulla; Col. Bannerjee 10 Sector RR, besides large number of youth, their parents and mentors were present on the occasion.

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