Mansar Lake Project to attract 20L tourists annually: Minister

Jammu, November 1

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday inaugurated the Mansar Lake Project in Jammu which he said would attract 20 lakh tourists every year once completed.

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) said it was a historic day for the people of the region as the Mansar Lake development plan was getting fulfilled after a long wait of 70 years.

Speaking after the e-foundation stone laying ceremony of the comprehensive Mansar Lake Rejuvenation/Development Plan, Singh said the number of national projects initiated in the region in over last six years was more than the number of such projects initiated in the earlier seven decades.

“The incredible development is too obviously visible to go unnoticed,” he said, adding that after its implementation, the number of tourists and pilgrims will increase from the current 10 lakh to 20 lakh per year.

Historic day

It is a historic day for the people of the region as the Mansar Lake development plan is getting fulfilled after a long wait of 70 years. —Jitendra Singh, Union Minister

Singh said the Mansar Rejuvenation Plan would lead to employment generation of about 1.15 crore man days and generate an income of more than Rs 800 crore per year.

“Ever since the Modi government took over, Jammu and Kashmir had received highest priority in development and particularly the Udhampur-Doda-Kathua parliamentary constituency, which could be compared to any other Lok Sabha constituency of India for its landmark development works.

“While Udhampur-Doda-Kathua is possibly the only Lok Sabha constituency in the country which has received three medical colleges in three years, Udhampur possibly the only district in the country which has on the lines of Namami Ganga and Ganga cleaning project received two similar rejuvenation and renovation projects for River Devika and Mansar Lake respectively,” the minister said.

In his address, Manoj Sinha, the lieutenant governor of UT of Jammu and Kashmir, said Mansar was of immense importance from pilgrimage as well heritage point of view and was scenic attraction due to vast Mansar Lake and its flora and fauna.