- CM Omar Abdullah: Fire Victims’ Aid Aligned with Updated Guidelines
JAMMU, Mar 5: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced today that Gurez Valley has recently gained prominence as a tourist attraction, with the Tourism department evaluating the establishment of a Tourism Development Authority for the area.
In response to a query from member Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi, the Chief Minister highlighted Gurez Valley’s rising status as a favored tourist destination.
“In 2022, Gurez Valley was awarded the ‘Best Offbeat Destination’ title, showcasing its uniqueness and increasing popularity among travelers,” he stated.
Additionally, he noted that in September 2023, Dawar village in Gurez received the ‘Best Tourism Village’ award in the Gold category from the Union Ministry of Tourism.
“This award underscores the village’s cultural heritage and tourism potential,” he informed the Legislative Assembly.
To further develop Gurez as an attractive tourist spot, the Tourism Department of Jammu and Kashmir has implemented various initiatives, including the introduction of commercial rafting in Gurez for the first time in 2024.
Furthermore, during the current financial year, the department has outlined plans for upgrading Gurez as an offbeat destination within the 2024-25 Capex Budget, as the Chief Minister mentioned in his remarks.
In a separate announcement, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also informed the Legislative Assembly that assistance provided to fire disaster victims is based on updated guidelines under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
Responding to member Ali Mohammad Sagar’s inquiry during the Question Hour of the ongoing Budget Session, the Chief Minister clarified that the assistance for fire victims aligns with the revised standards set forth by the Disaster Management Division in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
The Chief Minister, who oversees Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, added that these guidelines are reassessed every five years.
