Govt to optimally utilize custodian assets: Bukhari
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, in presence of Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Ahmed Bukhari today inaugurated modern multi-facility banquet hall “Tawi Mahal“ constructed by the Evacuee Property Department here at Udheywal.
Constructed at a cost of Rs.12.25 crore on an area of 32000 Sqft, the banquet hall has all advanced facilities like marriage halls, conference hall, restaurant, waiting lounge, AC rooms, separate kitchens and ample parking space where the people can arrange their private functions on nominal rates. Dr Singh directed the officers of EP department to convene a meeting with Evacuees Property Tenants and resolve their grievances.
Vice Chairperson, J&K State Advisory Board for Welfare and Development of Schedule Castes, Bushan Lal Dogra, former minister, Garu Ram, Custodian General, Javed Khan, Director Urban Local Bodies Soujanya Sharma, DC Relief, Subhra Sharma, Custodian Jammu Mushtaq H Malik, Executive Engineer EP, Bashir A Malik and senior officers of various departments, members of the civil society and a large number of people were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nirmal Singh appreciated the Custodian Department for creating such a huge facility which would prove to be an asset for the department. The architectural edifice of the hall also depicts the rich culture of Jammu and Kashmir where visitors will be able to enjoy all modern facilities, he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister stressed upon the need to explore possibilities of creating state of art public utilities on custodian land in the state. He also emphasized on envisaging projects to promote eco-tourism as such facilities would prove beneficial to generate huge revenue for the department.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Government has launched major developmental initiatives in various sectors with focus on prestigious projects for promoting tourism and culture in the state including Tawi river front view, Artificial lake, Jambu Zoo, Gandola Project, Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex and Raghunath Bazar and the results will be there for the people to see.
Dr Singh directed the officers of EP department to convene a meeting with Evacuees Property Tenants and resolve their grievances.
Addressing the gathering, Syed Basharat Ahmed Bukhari, said that the Custodian Department is evolving innovative measures for optimum use of custodian assets in the state so as to make it a self reliant and sustained revenue generating organization. The government has undertaken several projects and programmes all over the state without giving any preferential treatment to any particular area or region, he added. He said that instructions have already been passed to the concerned to ensure that transparency and accountability is maintained in every domain of governance.
He also felicitated the people of Jammu for giving historic name Tawi Mahal to the Banquet Hall.
The Minister said that the on-line booking of Tawi Mahal has already been started by the department.
