Tourism, I&FC deptts to file status reports over delay in artificial lake, Mubarak Mandi Gandola projects

UOI & State also directed to file counter affidavit in development of Mantalai-SudhMahadev

JAMMU: Taking cognizance of delay in two of completion of work on two major tourism attractions of the city- artificial lake and Mubarak Mandi Gandola project, the state high court on Thursday directed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department and state Tourism Department to file a status report in this regard, for respective projects.
A Division Bench of State High Court Comprising Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Kumar passed these directions on Thursday while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by one Inderjeet Khajuria, President All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association Jammu.
The court directed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to file a status report with regard to the project of construction of the Artificial Lake in the river Tawi.
"The status report shall indicate the exact nature of the project, and, to what extent it has been completed. The Photographs and maps shall be submitted along with the status report," it said.
Meanwhile, the Division Bench also directed the J&K Tourism Department to file a status report with regard to the Gondola Project from Mubarak Mandi Complex to the Bahu Fort.
Meanwhile, in another Public Interest Litigation filed by Adv Summit Nayyar seeking respondents to develop/improve the tourist infrastructural facilities for the Mantalai-SudhMahadev including temples which attracts a large number of tourists every year both in summer and winter season and to take effective measures as expeditiously as possible, the court directed the Union Ministry of Tourism Department New Delhi , State through Principle Secretary to Government Tourism Department, Secretary of Tourism J&K, Directorate of Tourism, Chairman Patnitop Development Authority, Chief Executive Officer, Patnitop Development Authority to file their counter affidavits within three weeks and rejoinder affidavit, if necessary, be filed within one week thereafter.
The petitioner had submitted that in the past several years, the state government has failed to promote the tourist resort on the tourism map of the state.
"The respondents have failed to tap the tourism potential of the area and are still in the state of infancy with regard to developing the place on the tourism map of the state," it had submitted.