Chief Minister chairs GDA meeting, stresses on
preservation of beauty of Gulmarg

Srinagar, October 21 - Reiterating the government’s determination to restore state’s pristine glory of being the choicest tourist resort for the national and international tourists of wide-ranging interests, Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah Wednesday asked the Tourism Development Authorities to come up to the expectations and achieve the goals of integrated and comprehensive tourism development entrusted to them.

Mr. Omar who is also the Chairman of GDA was addressing the 5thmeeting of Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) at Gulmarg. The Minster for Agriculture, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir, the Minister for Tourism, Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora, the Minister of State for Tourism, Mr. Nasir Aslam Wani, Commissioner Secretary Planning and Development, Mr. B. B. Vyas, Secretary Tourism, Ms. Tanveer Jahan and other members of the Authority were present in the meeting.

Mr. Omar laying stress on preserving the unique natural beauty of Gulmarg said that infrastructure development should be carried on incomplete consonance with ecological and environmental requirements without tampering with the natural beauty. He said Gulmarg offers round the year attraction for tourists and the GDA should further boost the same adding more and more facilities.

The Chief Minister said that in order to make the Gulmarg world class ski resort, the chairlift project should be taken beyond the Koungdori to the merry shoulders. “This would provide skiers most beautiful and upto the mark skiing track and slopes and help organize national and international skiing events”, he said and added that this will also provide venue for skiing on green grass in the summer.

The meeting decided that only the four by four vehicles with chain sited wheels will be allowed to move from Tangmarg onwards to ensure smooth movement on the road and clearance snow.

The meeting also decided to issue final notice to the hoteliers to make underground arrangements for storing water. The proposal of Development Authority for procuring snow-scooters and mountaineering bikes was also agreed to.

The meeting also discussed matters pertaining to augmentation of drinking water, electricity, preservation of environment and ecology, revival of golf course, improvement of existing snow clearance infrastructure, development of Drung as tourist village, development of Koungdori as ski destination, renovation of Maharaja Palace at Gulmarg, establishment of fire station, upgradation of medical facilities, establishment of trauma hospital and conduct of this year’s Gulmarg festival.

The Chief Minister after the meeting visited the medicare facility centre and ice skating rink at Gulmarg.

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