Tuesday, January 19, 2010

LIFE IS DEARER


To restrict jumping of drivers from running vehicles during accidents, authorities have decided to lock drivers’ window so they can drive carefully in fear of getting killed.

Rs 9.3 Cr Eco-Tourism Project for Dehra-ki-Gali on anvil

The Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf has said that owing to its magnificent forests, splendid view and proximity to Holly Shrine of Shahadra Sharief, as well as Mughal Road, a project proposal on Eco-Tourism Development of Dehra-Ki-Gali (DKG) and adjoining area has been formulated and submitted to Centre for approval. During his on-the- spot inspection to Eco Forest sprawled over 400 km around Dehra-ki-Gali yesterday, the Minister said that the Dehra-ki-Gali (DKG) is a beautiful hill station bordering Rajouri & Poonch Districts which has vast tourism potential. He said the entire area would be developed and brought on the tourism map adding that the development would be in consonance with the natural surroundings. The Minister said that the Government has formulated an ambitious proposal on Eco-Tourism Development of Dehra-Ki-Gali (DKG) and submitted to the Centre. The project has been proposed to be implemented in five years with an estimated cost of Rs.9.3 crore. The project includes construction of eco-friendly Huts. Trekking routes, Nature Trails, Nature Interpretation Centre, Cafeterias, Children Park and aforestation, the Minister said. He said, the project area includes Dehra-Ki- Gali(DKG), Topi, Seerhi, Rattan Pir. Suksar and Noori Chhamb. The project area once developed would attract lot of tourists and this would provide employment avenues to unemployed youth of the area. Subsequently this area shall be extended to beautiful water bodies located in the upper parts of Pir Panchal Range near Pir-Ki-Gali. This way the whole area would get linked to valley and tourists coming to Valley will also be able to enjoy beauty of nature in Rajouri and Poonch Districts of Jammu province. The Minister said that Rs 40 lakh have been sanctioned in first phase for construction of three wooden forest huts and two bridal paths within forests for its surveillance. Mr. Altaf sanctioned a timber depot for Maniyal Poonch to provide timber to the people of the area for construction of houses. He also directed the authorities to prepare a project plan for construction of road between Diyala Barota and Kalakot under Compensatory Aforestation Management and Planning Authority (COMPA). He assured the people that the government would pool all available resources to provide road connectivity to the people in remote areas to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people. The Minister was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Mr. Kuldeep Lal Khajuria, Director Social Forestry, Mr. Shamim Ahmed and other senior officers of the Forest Department.