Jahangeer Ganaie
Kathua, Jun 17: The picturesque hill destination of Sarthal in Bani area of Jammu division has been witnessing a significant inflow of tourists this summer, but the lack of basic infrastructure and amenities continues to dampen the travel experience.
Locals and visitors alike have raised serious concerns and urged the administration to act swiftly to develop the area.
Sarthal, around 250 kilometres from Jammu, is a serene and naturally rich destination, but the lack of essential facilities has become a major hurdle in boosting tourism in the region.
“There are very limited hotels here and those coming from outside face difficulty finding a place to stay overnight,” Ajay Kumar, a local resident said. “Even public seating arrangements like benches and resting spots are missing,” he added.
“The few available hotels are not clean and lack hygiene standards,” said Suman Devi, a tourist from Punjab. “Most of us had to carry our own groceries to cook.”
Public toilets are missing and there are no dustbins to manage waste. “There are no awareness signs like ‘Keep the Place Clean’ either,” said Mohd Saleem, a local shopkeeper. “We are worried the natural beauty of this area may degrade due to unmanaged littering.”
Although a BSNL tower was recently installed, it still remains non-functional. “The BSNL tower isn’t working properly and we request the government to install Jio and Airtel towers to ensure connectivity,” said Mudassar Ali, a local social activist.
“There is hardly electricity here, which causes problems especially during night stays,” complained Rajinder Singh, a hotel owner.
Locals demand installation of public benches and swings for children, placement of direction boards for Sarthal (Bani) across Jammu Division, fast-tracking work on the Bani-Bhaderwah double-lane road, installation of solar-powered street lights featuring Sarthal in the Jammu Tourism Calendar and organizing an annual Summer Festival to boost footfall.
“If these basic facilities are provided on a priority basis, Sarthal (Bani) has the potential to emerge as a model hill destination in Jammu division,” locals said.
“Tourism will flourish, the local economy will improve, and most importantly, our unemployed youth will get livelihood opportunities,” they added.
The residents and visitors now look toward the government and tourism department with hope, expecting swift intervention to transform Sarthal into a vibrant and sustainable tourist destination. (KNO)
