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Govt apathy hits tourism in Pathankot
Pathankot, September 29
Pathankot’s tourism industry, which used to rake in the moolah by successfully tapping the potential of the rivers, hills and lakes, is now gasping for breath and needs a massive dose of oxygen if it has to pull itself out of the gallows.

Sub-inspector suspended
Nawanshahr, September 29 In a bid to prevent the reporters from electronic and print media to take photographs during a police action on the persons allegedlly involved in flesh trade at Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar,here today Sub-inspector, Surinder Singh became virtually reckless as he not only misbehaved with the mediapersons, threatened them and even pull out his belt to assault them.

Tatkal tickets for passenger trains soon
Phagwara, August 29
The Railways has decided to introduce Tatkal tickets for passenger trains also like Mail, and Superfast Express trains, but Tatkal tickets could be available for those passenger trains which had recorded an average utilisation of 60 per cent capacity during the previous financial year. The Railway sources said the zonal Railways had been vested with the responsibility of identifying such trains.

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Govt apathy hits tourism in Pathankot
Potential for water sports in Ranjit Sagar Dam not tapped
Ravi Dhaliwal/TNS

Pathankot, September 29
Pathankot’s tourism industry, which used to rake in the moolah by successfully tapping the potential of the rivers, hills and lakes, is now gasping for breath and needs a massive dose of oxygen if it has to pull itself out of the gallows.

Old-timers claim that just after Independence and just before the advent of the seventies, the town -considered to be the gateway to J&K and HP- was famous for the three Ts-timber, tourism and transport. However, owning to government apathy, all these three Ts have been virtually wiped out from the town’s map, giving the economy a negative tinge.

The scenic Ranjit Sagar Dam, situated to the north of the town, has immense potential for water sports. Had this activity been in place, thousands of tourists would have flocked to the dam’s lake. With the flow of tourists, the money needed to sustain such an activity could also have flowed.

Former Gurdaspur Member Parliament (MP) Vinod Khanna had promised the electorate just before the 2009 elections that he would get things moving and had even held discussions with the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association,the body which oversees water sports in India. However, eversince then, things have remained on the drawing board as Khanna lost the elections and with it,his interest in the project also waned.

Sources say the famous art gallery of paper-cutting artist Prabal Pramanik has also fallen on bad days. It is situated just 25 km from the town on the Dalhousie road and could have attracted tourists by hordes provided it had been given proper attention.

The vanishing of the three Ts has meant that the growth rate of this once flourishing town has been on a downward spiral for the past several decades. “Incentives need to be given by both the state and the Central governments if the tourism and allied industries have to survive,” said Anil Vij, former president of the Pathankot Municipal Committee.

The hospitality business has also turned inhospitable. “There were plenty of hotels when business bloomed about four decades ago. However, now a majority of these are struggling for survival as foreigners have stopped visiting the town,” said Dr Samrendra Sharma, principal, SD College”. A shikhara-type of culture, which is famous in Srinagar, could have been easily developed in the lake of the Ranjit Sagar Dam which is located in an area of 23 km. Some funds were allocated for the water sports venture but for some inexplicable reason they were diverted for some other purposes,” said Sharma.

Travel agents said the world-famous “hidden caves” of Mukteshwar village, which date back to the Mahabharta times and are situated 15 km from the town, have a plenty of tourism potential, which has not been tapped to the hilt.

“Picnic spots like Shahpur Kandi, a semi-hilly area, Madhopur and Parian Wala Bagh have become desolate spots now,” said Dr Samrendra Sharma.

Sub-inspector suspended

Nawanshahr, September 29
In a bid to prevent the reporters from electronic and print media to take photographs during a police action on the persons allegedlly involved in flesh trade at Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar,here today Sub-inspector, Surinder Singh became virtually reckless as he not only misbehaved with the mediapersons, threatened them and even pull out his belt to assault them. The mediapersons and press club got the complaint registered at the Helpline recently launched by the Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Taking prompt action, the SSP, Dhanpreet Kaur, asked DSP, Sarbjit Singh Bahia to conduct an inquiry and submit its report immediately. The DSP took the statements of the accused Sub-inspector and mediapersons and demanded CD of the recording on the spot. The SSP has put the Sub- inspector under suspension and ordered departmental inquiry against him. — OC

Tatkal tickets for passenger trains soon

Phagwara, August 29
The Railways has decided to introduce Tatkal tickets for passenger trains also like Mail, and Superfast Express trains, but Tatkal tickets could be available for those passenger trains which had recorded an average utilisation of 60 per cent capacity during the previous financial year. The Railway sources said the zonal Railways had been vested with the responsibility of identifying such trains.

Sources said the Tatkal charges for these trains would be the same as for the superfast trains and the same principle would be applicable for earmarking seats.

Meanwhile the rates for luggage and parcel have been increased with effect from October 1. Sources said Rs 30 would be the minimum parcel charges. — OC