JAGMOHAN ANNOUNCES SPECIAL TOURISM
PACKAGE FOR J &
K
Minister for Tourism
and Culture, Shri Jagmohan has announced a special package for
Creation of employment through the revival of tourism in Jammu
and Kashmir. Giving the highlights of the package here today,
Shri Jagmohan said that the Prime Minister during his visit to
Srinagar on 19th April, 2003 had announced that a comprehensive
plan would be prepared to create at least one lakh employment
and self employment opportunities in the State in the next two
years. With this objective in view the Ministry of Tourism and
Culture, Government of India has notified a special package for
revival of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. This package consists
of the following components:
Package for Houseboat
Owners
Soft loans will be
provided to them by the banks on interest @ 4%. The subsidy (difference
between Prime Lending Rate and 4%) will be provided by the Department
of Tourism. Maximum loan amount eligible for interest subsidy
will range between Rs.1 lakhs and Rs. 3 lakhs depending on the
category. Houseboats in the categories of Deluxe, A-Class, B-Class,
C-Class and D-Class registered with the Tourism Department of
J&K Government prior to 1.1.2003 would be eligible for benefits
under this scheme. There are 1089 registered houseboats in the
Valley.
Package for Hotels
and Guest Houses
Soft loans will be
provided to Hotels and Guest House owners by the banks on loans
@4% interest. The subsidy (difference between Prime Lending Rates
and 4%) will be provided by the Deptt. of Tourism. This benefit
would be available at the rate of Rs.50,000/- (loan amount) per
room for upto 50% of the capacity of the hotels/guest houses.
All registered hotels/guest houses in the categories of A, B,
C and D as per State Govt. certification norms except 5 Star Hotels
would be eligible. There are 426 hotels with 15,000 beds in the
Kashmir Valley.
Package for Shikara
Owners
All registered Shikara
owners as on 1.1.2003 would be eligible for capital grant of Rs.20,000
for repairs and upgradation of their Shikaras. There are 2,500
such Shikaras in the Valley. The amount of capital grant will
be provided by the Deptt. of Tourism, Government of India.
Package for Pony
Walas
Capital grant of
25% subject to a sealing of Rs.10,000 would be provided to registered
Pony Walas as on 1.1.2003 in the Kashmir Valley. Besides, soft
loan upto Rs.30,000 would also be provided by participating banks
to such Pony Walas on interest rate of 4%. The subsidy (difference
between Prime Lending Rate and 4%) by the Department of Tourism,
Government of India. There are 5,276 such Pony Walas in Kashmir
Valley.
Shri Jagmohan
said that a number of tourism related projects to promote tourism
in Jammu and Kashmir have also been sancitoned. These include
restoration/conservation/development of Kheer Bhawani, Baba Reshi
Sahib Complex, Amarnath Ji Yatra, Patnitop-Pahalgam-Srinagar-Gulmarg,Aish
Muqqam complex, Nishat Bagh; drainage scheme in Katra Town and
Mattan.
