Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department will evaluate the necessity of establishing a Tourism Development Authority for Gurez Valley, which has recently emerged as a prominent tourist destination.
He highlighted Gurez’s growing recognition, citing the valley’s receipt of the “Best Offbeat Destination” award in 2022 and the “Best Tourism Village” award (Gold category) for Dawar village in 2023 from the Union Ministry of Tourism.
“These accolades underscore Gurez’s unique appeal and cultural richness,” Abdullah stated.
To further promote Gurez, the Tourism Department has initiated several projects, including the commencement of commercial rafting in 2024. The 2024-25 Capex Budget includes provisions for upgrading Gurez as an offbeat destination.
Fire Incident Relief Aligned with National Standards
In a separate session, Chief Minister Abdullah clarified that relief provided to victims of fire incidents adheres to the revised norms of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
He explained that these assistance scales, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Disaster Management Division, are reviewed every five years.
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