“Resolute efforts are underway to tap the immense potential for growth in religious tourism of Jammu and Kashmir”. Minister of State for Education, Tourism and Culture, Priya Sethi stated this during her visit to Prachin Mata Temple at Prem Nager here today.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that J&K has a vast potential to be a major religious tourist destination as it show cases the perfect bouquet of diverse tradition and culture and several prestigious projects has been initiated to give a boost its tourism sector.
Citing various steps undertook by the coalition government, the Minister said that several new initiatives including Ropeway projects, Multilevel parking, developing Bawe, Mohmaya and Peerkho as a tri-shrines on the lines of the idea once conceived by Jambhu Lochan, connecting five shrines and many more prestigious projects are underway to attract more tourists and enhance the pilgrim tourism in the region.
The Minister said that the recently held Peerkho mela has attracted a huge crowd and successful conduct of such events will prove to be decisive in development of Peerkho and other such religiously significant places.
Priya asked the people who were gathered in the large numbers to pay a visit to the Peerkho to have glimpses of newly inaugurated Shiv Vatika costing Rs 47 lakhs executed by Floriculture department.
The Minister stressed on the need of putting in a collective effort by all stakeholders to ensure the holistic development of various places of religious importance in the region through which, not only devotes but more tourists will be attracted which will give a fillip to the economy of the area.
Priya said that the state government has included the development of pilgrim tourism in the development plan and is reaching out to the tourists by undertaking several promotional activities in the state as well as outside J&K.
She further said that the government is determined on tapping every aspect of tourism in State with special focus on developing the places of spiritual and religious importance to meet the aspirations of people.
The Minister said that the government has initiated requisite measures for the development of prominent religious places to improve facilities for the devotees and asked the concerned officers to assess the developmental need of the Temple and further instructed them to put in place a proper mechanism for the development of the spiritual heritage.
Speaking on the occasion, State Vice-President,BJP, Yudhvir Sethi called upon the civil society to work jointly with the Government for the welfare of the people without any self interest. He said that it is duty of all haves to help the have not’s as selfless services of humanity is the service of God.
BJP is working with the agenda of equitable development as development cannot be achieved without taking every section of the society into account, he maintained.
Yudhvir further said that every religion teaches its followers to be generous and help the one in need. By doing so, we can serve the right purpose and contribute to the welfare of the society.
Later, the dignitaries also served langer to the devotees and paid obeisance at the temple.
Others Who Were Present on the occassion Sh. Munish Sharma (Vice Chairman JAKFED ), Sanjeev Sharma Senior BJP Leader, Anil Massom, Shiv Kumar,Vishal Kohli, Ramseh Gupta, Ravi Thakur, Sunny Sehgal , Pardeep Baru , Nipun Malhotra, Sudhir Anand , Ram parkash, Brij Mohan , Amit Kapoor , Neru Anand, Savita Anand, Saroj Devi and Sharda Devi.
