New Delhi, Dec 18 (KNO): The Centre is promoting tourism in Jammu and Kashmir through multiple schemes aimed at destination development and strengthening tourism infrastructure, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Replying to a parliamentary question, Shekhawat, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the Ministry of Tourism is promoting destinations and tourism experiences across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, under its Domestic Promotion and Publicity, including Hospitality (DPPH) and Overseas Promotion and Publicity (OPP) schemes.
"These initiatives are designed to attract both domestic and international tourists and increase footfall," he said.
The minister said the Centre is also supporting tourism infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir through central sector schemes such as Swadesh Darshan, the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD), and Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development (ACATID).
Financial assistance under these schemes, he said, is provided to states and Union Territories to supplement their efforts.
Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, several projects were sanctioned in Jammu and Kashmir during 2016–17 under the Himalayan Circuit. These include development of the Jammu-Srinagar-Pahalgam-Bhagwati Nagar-Anantnag-Salamabad Uri-Kargil-Leh circuit at a sanctioned cost of Rs 77.33 crore, with Rs 67.37 crore released, and development of tourist facilities at Jammu-Rajouri-Shopian-Pulwama for Rs 81.60 crore, of which Rs 67.35 crore has been released.
Other projects under the scheme include the construction of tourism assets damaged in the 2014 floods under the Prime Minister’s Development Package for Rs 90.43 crore, with Rs 74.70 crore released, and the development of tourist facilities at Mantalai and Sudhmahadev at a sanctioned cost of Rs 91.99 crore, with Rs 91.93 crore released.
The minister said tourism facilities were also developed at Anantnag-Pulwama-Kishtwar-Pahalgam-Zanskar-Padum-Daksum-Ranjit Sagar Dam at a cost of Rs 86.39 crore, with Rs 69.95 crore released, and at Gulmarg-Baramulla-Kupwara-Kargil-Leh at a cost of Rs 91.84 crore, with Rs 85.80 crore released.
Under the PRASHAD scheme, Rs 40.46 crore was sanctioned for development works at the Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar, against which Rs 34.30 crore has been released. He added that under ACATID, a sound and light show at Nigeen Lake was sanctioned for Rs 5 crore, with Rs 3.08 crore released—(KNO)