Face to Face with Lal Singh / Jammu Zoo, a big boon for attracting tourist to Jammu: Choudhary Lal Singh

* After the completion, Jammu Zoo, shall be a big boon for attracting tourist to Jammu and it will also help in preservation and protection of forest land.
* This was stated by Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, Choudhary Lal Singh while interacting with the Young Bites.
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Here are the excerpts.
Vijay Gupta
Jammu, July 26
VG: What is the progress about the Jammu Zoo?
LS: The construction work for the early completion of Jammu Zoo is going with full pace and I am personally inspecting the progress. The Zoo is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 121 crore.
I have directed executing agencies to gear up men and machinery to complete the project in prescribed time frame.
VS: What is special about this zoo in Jammu and when it Will be completed?
LS: This is for the first time that such a grand zoo is being constructed in Jammu, it will be developed on modern lines with a huge network of roads. Its biggest attraction will be a 70-foot Entry gate to be near Khanpur area on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. The zoo would be developed over an area spreading from Khanpur to Chinore and the project is likely to be completed in three years and thrown open after completing initial work.
The major attraction of this zoo is that there should be a Safari ride facility. The project as a big boon for attracting tourist to Jammu and it will also help in preservation and protection of forest land. He said Safari ride facility will be a major attraction for the visitors.
VG: The lack of tourism facilities at Basholi is not good for our ailing tourism, what you think?
LS: Yes, it is very unfortunate that due to previous government in state, who did not take any interest to develop such a magnificent place, which can attract thousands of tourists per year, but now I am trying my best to create more facilities there. In this regard my department has vacated 5000 kanals of land which was occupied forcibly by the land grabbers, which should be now utilized for creating more tourist facilities including huts, so that people can enjoy the beauty there.
The Government is committed to provide better facilities to the people and it has focused its attention on developing all locations having tourist potential to increase tourist footfall in the state which in turn generate employment and enhance the socio-economic condition of the locals.
VG: The lakes in valley are on the verge of dying, is there any plant to retain their glory?
LS: I want to share with the people that the Paradise is on a high as one of Asia's largest fresh water lakes is all set to charm the tourists with its breathtaking beauty. Situated in north Kashmir's Bandipora, the Wular Lake will be developed as Eco-tourism destination to woo the tourists to the breathtaking water body.
Jammu and Kashmir government is mulling to establish 34.58 kilometres boulevard at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore to revamp the picturesque Wular lake.
"We are working on a Boulevard project coming up along the periphery of Wular Lake that will cost around Rs 700 crore.