‘Have High Hopes On DC Shopian, Want Him To Personally Intervene’
Umer Rashid
Shopian, Jun 3: (GNS) Scores of local youths here in this South Kashmir district held a sit-in demonstration in a bid to draw attention of administration towards the scenic beauty of Lahanthoor – falling at a distance of just two kilometres from main-town. The youths had assembled to press for the demand of elevating the status of the spot from an otherwise ignored location to a well-established tourist destination.
Wasim Ahmad, part of the sit-in demonstration, while talking to GNS said that there are very less people who know about Lahanthoor despite it being at a distance of just two kilometers from the main-town Shopian. He said that a DPR was drafted for the development of the location and sent to Director Tourism, “however after seven years nothing has been done on ground”, adding that “We even are not being allowed to visit the place.”
Requesting the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar Vaishya for their kind intervention the youth said we appeal the honorable dignitaries to intervene to facilitate the process ‘as to bring this beautiful location on the tourism map.’
Seconding the demand of his colleague, Advocate Owais Khan on the eve said that, “This peaceful sit-in is being held to draw the attention of authorities to bring the Lahanthoor at par with other undergoing developmental processes in the district.”
Remarking that ‘Lahanthoor has its own importance’, Khan further said that this is the same where a song of the movie ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’ was shot in 1964. “We want the place be restored back to its pristine glory and be made a tourist spot for the people”, Khan said.
Extending his gratitude to DC Shopian Sachin Kumar Vaishya for initiating various developmental works in the district, Khan said that we have high hopes on Honorable Deputy Commissioner and ask him to personally intervene in restoring back the glory of Lahanthoor.
Remarking that post the Covid-19 situation, people have been in deep stress, Khan said that ‘once developed, this scenic location can act as a huge stress-buster for all those visiting here.’
A front has also been formed by the local youth under the name ‘Lahanthoor Development Front’ (LDF), which according to him, will be aiming to seek development of this place at a fast-track basis.
Reiterating his appeal to DC Shopian Sachin Kumar Vaishya, Khan said that “We request honorable Deputy Commissioner to personally pay a visit here and see the immediate requirement to develop the spot into a full-fledged tourist destination.”
Another local Rayees Ahmad lamenting that the location has been encroached upon by unscrupulous elements, he further said we want authorities to remove the illegal encroachments and develop the place into a well-established tourist destination on a priority basis. (GNS)
