STATE TIMES NEWS
UDHAMPUR: Former MLA and NPP State President Balwant Singh Mankotia assured the people of Kambal Danga of Udhampur that he will develop Gopalpur as religious tourist place. He blamed the Coalition Government that there is huge potential of religious tourism but deliberately these places are being neglected by the successive regimes.
Participating the annual congregation at Gopalpur of Kambal Danga Panchayat of Udhampur Constituency, former MLA and NPP State President Balwant Singh Mankotia assured the people of the area that he will develop this place as religious tourist place from its own pocket. This place would come on the map of tourism, a big entry gate of 15 feet would be constructed on the road connecting the Gopalpur.
Mankotia made a scathing attack on the Coalition Government and Tourism Department that during his tenure a budget of Rs 35 lakh were sanction for development of Gopalpur as religious tourist place and only 3-4 lakh were spent for the development of this area. Unfortunately after the change of government in State, this project was kept into the cold store by the successive regime and Tourism Department of the State, blamed Mankotia.
He further said that due to non-seriousness of the department, this area remain neglected for further development. He reiterated that being not a member of the Legislative Assembly but the development of this area would start with the construction of entry gate from my own pocket.
Jammu region has vast potential of religious tourism which can be explored at national level but unfortunately no serious approach was adopted by the successive regimes resulting into non-availability of employment sources to educated youth of Jammu region, regretted Mankotia. He also joined the community Langar organised by the people of Gopalpur and paid obeisance in the Jagran.
