THE TRIBUNE - Leh, June 18

Leh, June 18
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today said the state government was planning to open a land route to Kailash Mansarovar via Ladakh and he would soon take up the issue with the Ministries of External Affairs and Defence.

“The route to Mansarovar via Ladakh will be easier than the existing one through Uttaranchal and will also boost the economy of the region,’’ Mr Sayeed told reporters on the sidelines of the Sindhu Darshan festival here.

“The state government will soon raise the issue with the Centre and urge it to consider the proposal urgently which will not only provide succour to thousands of pilgrims but also develop the region,’’ the Chief Minister said.

Dismissing allegations that the ongoing Sindhu Darshan festival had failed to attract tourists as in previous years, Mr Sayeed said domestic and international tourists had arrived in large numbers. However, the rescheduling of the festival due to government formation and the Lok Sabha session might be responsible for the decline in the number of tourists. The three-day festival, which began today in a picturesque location along the banks of the Sindhu, was earlier scheduled for June 11-13.

However, unlike previous years, the festival did not begin with puja being offered to the river by a host of Central Ministers and locals were of the opinion that this would ensure more participation by the locals especially Buddhists.

Describing Ladakh as an all-season tourist destination, Mr Sayeed said apart from pilgrimage tourism the region had tremendous potential for advance tourism. “The state government will also take up the issue of starting trekking for tourists in the region with help from the Defence Ministry.’’