KUPWARA: The District Development Commissioner (DDC) Kupwara, Khalid Jahangir today stressed upon the concerned officers to make a joint effort for developing district Kupwara as a tourist destination.
The DDC said this during a meeting of concerned officers convened here to review the arrangements for ensuing Bangus valley festival and other measures for developing the tourist destinations of Kupwara district.
The meeting took threadbare discussion and the officers briefed the DDC about the measures being taken for the development of the tourism sector in the district.
The DDC gave an overview of tourism potential of the district and asked officers to ensure concerted and joint efforts for developing tourist destinations of Kupwara, adding that nature has bestowed Kupwara district with scenic beauty, lush green forests, and clear crystal water bodies.
The meeting reviewed the action taken report on decisions/ instructions conveyed by Lt. Governor during his visit to Bangus valley last year.
The DDC asked officers to create facilities for a day picnic at Bangus. He directed the officers to outsource the waste collection, use signage with good messages, install dustbins, solar lights at prominent spots of the Bangus. He also advised for the holding of sports and athletic activities including horse riding, tug of war, hill cycling, race, volleyball and Kabaddi tournament.
He asked officers to ensure that any development in the Bangus should be eco-friendly and said the beauty of Bangus is within our hands and all stakeholders should cooperate in its caretaking. He directed the officers to develop Drangyari as a gateway to Bangus and develop an eco-park there. He asked for development of all three roads leading to Bangus for providing equal opportunity of livelihood to the local populace.
The DDC said that Kupwara has various other destinations including Lolab valley which has also a great scope for tourism development. He asked officers to create facilities for the visitors and refurbish the Rest Houses at Chandigam, Reshwari, T.P and other locations and also augment water and power facilities there.
Reviewing the sanitation and cleanliness of Kupwara town and vicinity, the DDC directed the concerned to lift all garbage and plastic waste from the river banks and road sides and make Kupwara town free from plastic waste.
ADC Kupwara who is also CEO, Lolab-Bangus-Drangyari Development Authority (LBDDA), Ghulam Nabi Bhat; JD Planning, ACD, ACP, DFOs, DIO AD Tourism, AD Planning, Executive Engineers, BEACON authorities and other concerned were present in the meeting.