By: Tasaduq Hussain
Kupwara: The most potential tourist destination Bangus valley is waiting for official attention for so many years with people aghast over the inaction and nonseriousness of administration in promoting the place besides developing the required infrastructure to host mega-events like golf and tourists every year.
Located in the frontier district Kupwara in north Kashmir at an altitude of 10,000 feet above sea level, Bangus valley is seen as one of the most vital tourists destinations by the locals and people from other places of the valley who visit the meadows to experience the variety of flora and fauna with lush green dense woods.
Bangus comprises Chota and Bada Bangus (Small and Big Bangus) with a vast plane surface having a natural water source.
While expressing resentment against the administration for failing to develop Bangus as a tourist destination the locals said all half-hearted efforts made to explore Bangus have gone in vain leaving the potent place to crave for attention despite receiving funds for the developmental work.
Sumair Ahmad, a local Trekker claimed that Bangus alone is more potent than Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonmarg in terms of hosting thousands of tourists, every year besides trekking and events like golf and festivals can be held with very huge participation of people from different parts.
Waseem Ahmad an explorer while appreciating the beautiful meadows of Bangus said that there is no denial in saying this place is one of the most underestimated places across the Kashmir valley with such a huge potential to act as a premier destination for millions of people besides exploring more avenues for native people.
Sameer Ahmad a travel agent said that the administration of Jammu and Kashmir in the ensuing year regularly claimed to explore more tourist destinations in the valley and promote tourism.
“We are hopeful that beautiful destination like Bangus valley are explored and administration works to promote this place as well to ensure more avenues are developed for the people who have high hopes levied,” he said.
Javaid Ahmad, a driver said that this place has great unmatched beauty but has been given very little care and attention by the authorities.
“This place has the halfway motorable road from both Kupwara and Handwara side but still a huge number of people visit every year with numbers showing an increase. A little more amount of attention will enhance chances of it becoming the prime tourist an attraction not only in the north but across the Kashmir valley,” Javaid said.
Ghulam Ahmad, a senior citizen said that for so many years despite promises and assurances, government has not initiated concrete steps to develop the place while the Lolab Bangus Drangyari Development Authority (LBDDA) is acting as mute spectators without exploring more options and failing to attract more visitors in the summer season.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Kupwara Nazir Ahmad who holds the additional charge of Cheif Executive Officer (CEO) of LBDDA said that there are no funds available with them presently since the financial year has come to an end and new plans are expected to come up in future.
About the road connectivity, the CEO said that the project is with the Beacon and has no details related to the same. (KNO)
