DC Doda chairs Stakeholders Consultative meet to enhance sanitation, tourist facilities across the district

DODA, MAY 10: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Doda, Harvinder Singh today held a comprehensive Stakeholders Consultative Meeting at Gatha Park Bhaderwah, focusing on enhancing sanitation and tourist facilities across the district, especially at popular tourist destinations like Guldanda, Padri and Jai Valley.

The meeting was attended by CEO Bhaderwah Development Authority, CPO Doda, ACD Doda, ACP Doda, Deputy Registrar Cooperatives, EO MC Doda Executive Engineer, orher senior officers of district administration and stakeholders from Hotel Associations and Tourism associations.

Addressing the gathering, DC Doda emphasized the collaborative effort required to launch the “Clean Bhaderwah-Green Bhaderwah” initiative, aimed at fostering awareness and responsibility towards maintaining cleanliness in tourist areas. He further reinforced the ban on polythene to preserve the natural beauty of these locations.
The DC also stressed on constructing vermi compost pits at tourist spots to convert biodegradable waste into useful manure which would go a long way in creating an organic crop ecosystem in the district.

The Deputy Commissioner further directed the Deputy Registrar cooperatives to immediately come up with a plan to register a cooperative body for maintaining proper cleanliness around tourist spots, enhancing coordination and accountability in promoting tourism initiatives and utilising waste generated at such places into useful products in association with Municipalities and Rural Development Department.

During the meeting, it was decided to give eco-friendly carry bags to each vehicle going to tourism spots with “Clean Bhaderwah-Green Bhaderwah” logo while charging nominal fees through Bhaderwah Development Authority for ensuring cleanliness in such places. Through this initiative, each vehicle/tourist would be made aware to utilise such bags to bring back plastic/non-degradable waste back from tourism spots.

It was further decided that a Swachata Abhiyan will be carried out at Jai Valley and Guldanda on May 18th and 19th with an aim to mobilize community participation in maintaining cleanliness standards. In a bid to address waste management challenges, it was decided that Bhaderwah Municipality will undertake the collection of plastic waste, while ACP was asked to identify dumping locations and oversee vermi composting initiatives especially in spots closer to water bodies like Neeru Nallah. Furthermore, BDA was asked to install information boards at strategic locations to enhance visitor experience and awareness regarding tourist facilities.
On the sidelines of the meeting, DC Doda also inspected the Gatha Park and underscored the importance of proper facilities like eateries, toilets and lighting for night visitors in the park.

During his inspection, he interacted with park officials to assess cleanliness, security measures, and overall infrastructure thereby reinforcing the commitment to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for leisure activities.