Says Rs. 11.50 cr Drang-Tosa-maidan road to be completed on war-footing
SRINAGAR: In a significant move a senior state minister Friday said all necessary measures will be initiated to exploit the vast and multi-dimensional tourism potential of Tos-maidan- the Valley of huge lush green meadows and breath taking pastures spread over about 3000 kanals of land in Central district Budgam.
The Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather visited the meadow situated in the upper reaches of Himalayan Range about 10 kms from Khag, Budgam which is being currently used by Indian army for firing exercises.
Tos maidan has lately become the new rallying point for protests in the valley. Tos Maidan- a picturesque valley of alpine meadows, surrounded by dense forests, was given to the army on lease in 1964 for conducting artillery drills. The lease expires in July 2014 and the locals are opposing any extension of the lease by the Jammu and Kashmir government and want it to be developed as a tourist resort. Speaking to the people of Sitharan and a group of nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals, during his maiden visit to Tos maidan, the Minister assured that all necessary measures will be taken to market the vast tourism potential of Tosa-maidan in the world of tourism, adding that the initiative will bring socio-economic prosperity in this backward pocket of the State besides opening new vistas of employment avenues for the local youth.
He said a road project from Drang to Tos-maidan costing Rs. 11.50 crore has already been sanctioned by the State Government under NABARD funding and assured that all the resources will be mobilized to complete black topping of Drang to Sitharan stretch of this road during the current fiscal. He said cabinet approval for necessary forest clearance for construction of 2nd phase of the road from Sitharan to Tosa-maidan will be sought on war-footing which will go a long way in bringing Tosa-maidan on the tourism map of the world. He said Tosa-maidan has a potential to be developed as a vast Himalayan tourism circuit between Yousmarg to Dhoodpathri to Tosa-maidan to world famous Gulmarg in near future.
While listening to the problems faced by locals at Tos-maidan, Mr. Rather was apprised about the hardships caused to the people of the area and nomadic Gujjars and Bakerwals due to artillery drills conducted by Army in this meadow which is used by them for cattle breeding. While demanding shifting of the firing range to some other un-inhabited area, the locals said that sometimes unexploded shells during firearms practice explode when the movement of people starts in the meadows in summer months, resulting in the loss of precious human and animal lives. The locals also complained about inadequate drinking water supply in Tos-maidan and demanded installation of more water posts there.
Rather gave patient hearing to the people and said that their genuine grievances will be redressed earnestly. He said basic purpose of his visiting Tos-maidan by road was to get first hand appraisal about the problems confronting the people living in and adjacent to this meadow. It takes about five hours to reach Tosa-maidan and back after travelling through hilly and rugged terrain. The famous Sukh-Naag (spring) is also located in the upper reaches of Tos-maidan from where 40% of its water comes down to Khag area while rest of it goes to Pakistan. About one third of the population of Budgam and Baramulla depends upon this spring for irrigation and drinking water.
The Minister was accompanied by the District Development Commissioner Budgam Mr. Khursheed Ahmad Shah, SSP Budgam Mohammad Irshad, executive engineer R&B, Budgam, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad, District President NC, Advocate Shaheen, and concerned engineers and officers of the district administration.
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