Pahalgam to be developed as World-Class Winter Resort
“Heli-Skiing,Iice-Skating, Snow Bikes to be introduced soon”
Pahalgam (Kashmir), October 23 - Minister of State for Tourism, Jammu & Kashmir, today said that the Government will develop Pahalgam as a world-class winter tourist destination and introduce Heli-Skiing and Ice-Skating in a big way.
The Minister said this while interacting with representatives of Hotel Association, Pahalgam here today on the first leg of his two-day tour to take stock of various developmental activities.
Chief Executive Officer, Pahalgam Development Authority, President of Hotel Association of Pahalgam Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Pahalgam and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.
The Minister said the world-famous Heli-skier, Sylvain Saudon, will visit Pahalgam to access the potential Heli-Ski slopes. “We have been successful with Heli-Skiing ventures in Gulmarg and the department feels that Pahalgam also has the potential to come up as a major Heli-Ski destination,” he said, adding that the resort will soon have a world-class Ice-Skating rink also.
In order to promote winter sports, the Minister said the Pahalgam Development Authority will buy Snow Bikes on trial basis to assess its feasibility. He, however, asked the tourism fraternity to take out a leaf and start winter-promotion activities of their own.
Referring to the development of the famous health resort, the Minister complimented Pahalgam Development Authority for retrieving 178 kanals of prime land from encroachers. He said all steps will be taken to upgrade power and water supply so that visitors don’t feel inconvenience on this account. “We have already segregated one power feeder exclusively for Pahalgam. Very shortly, we will also increase the water-carrying capacity of PHE pipes and improve quality of potable water,” he said, adding infrastructure development will be carried out in a much planned manner.
The Minister said the Government will revisit the Pahalgam Master-Plan and for this an agreement has been effected with Univeristy of Kashmir to carry out an Environment Impact Assessment of the area. He said the grey areas of the earlier master plan will be removed. He directed CEO, Pahalgam Development Authority, to take up the cases of minor repairs of residential houses on priority and call a meeting of BOCA by the end of this month. “However, I want to emphasize that no one will be allowed to meddle with the natural environs of Pahalgam and every step will be taken to prevent it from becoming a concrete jungle,” the Minister emphasized.
The Minister also visited various sites being developed by Pahalgam Development Authority which included Abshaar Park, wayside amenities on Lidder front and other picnic spots.
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