*Many measures suggested in draft for holistic development
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 28: The exercise initiated four years back for ensuring planned development of the famous tourist destination of Patnitop in Udhampur district has finally reached penultimate stage with Government framing a committee for finalization of the Revised Master Plan by disposing off suggestions and objections raised by the public.
Till now, the developmental activities at this picturesque spot are being governed by 20 years old and obsolete Master Plan, which was prepared way back in 1995. The new Master Plan would be the second one since the formulation of Patnitop Development Authority in the year 1992 under Section 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970.
The formulation of new Master Plan didn’t receive the focus of the successive Governments during all these years despite the fact that initially the jurisdiction of the Patnitop Development Authority was spread over an area of 265 square kilometers and few years back the area was increased to 492 square kilometers to cover more locations having tourism potential.
The exercise to formulate Revised Master Plan, which has now reached penultimate stage, was set into motion in the year 2011 with the signing of an agreement on September 17, 2011 with Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Hyderabad. Now after more than four years, the Revised Master Plan is all set to be finalized with Government forming committee to dispose off the suggestions and objections received from the stakeholders, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
According to an order issued by the Tourism Department headed by Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, a committee headed by District Development Commissioner (DDC) Udhampur, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary and comprising of Director Tourism Jammu, Chief Town Planner, Jammu and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Patnitop Development Authority will ascertain which suggestions and objections are required to be incorporated in the Revised Master Plan.
After disposal of the suggestions and objections by this committee, the Tourism Department will place the Revised Master Plan before the State Cabinet and following approval of this highest decision making body all the developmental activities in future will be governed by this detailed and comprehensive document.
In response to a question, sources said that limited number of objections and suggestions have been received from the stakeholders and majority of the issues raised by them have already been taken care of in the draft Revised Master Plan prepared by the CEPT.
The CEPT has categorically mentioned in the draft Revised Master Plan that keeping in view bounties of nature and other elements like fascinating mountains, forests, groves, meadows, pastures, low clouds hugging mountain peaks and other beautiful natural manifestations, the Patnitop can be developed as an equally important tourist destination area as the Kashmir valley.
Besides pointing several areas, which require immediate attention, the CEPT has stressed the need for providing more and improved sanitation facilities and proper waste management system on the ground that wastes generated by restaurants, small dhabhas and road side vendors is thrown in drains, vacant plots or in ravines, which is polluting the environment.
As far as tourism infrastructure is concerned, the CEPT has said that the accommodation facilities are concentrated mainly in Patnitop. Kud and Sanasar don’t have adequate facilities. Moreover, the present available rooms are not sufficient to meet the demand in the peak season. It has laid thrust on development of pilgrim destination at Patnitop and surrounding area; development of tourist destination at Sanasar-Nathatop; construction of budgeted accommodation at Nathatop, development of meadows at Sanasar and development of tourist destination at Kothri, Ladhwal, Shankh Pal and Kirya.
It has also laid stress on creation of necessary healthcare facilities for the convenience of the tourists, which are presently lacking at Patnitop and surrounding areas.
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