Says Hundreds of Families Dependent on Trekking, Horse Riding and Pilgrimage Activities Facing Hardship
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SRINAGAR: MLA Kangan Mian Meher Ali on Thursday called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Lok Bhawan and submitted a memorandum seeking the reopening of the famous tourist destination Naranag in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
During the meeting, the MLA highlighted the difficulties being faced by local residents whose livelihood is directly linked with tourism, trekking, pilgrimage and other related activities in the Naranag area.
Sources said Mian Meher Ali informed the Lieutenant Governor that the prolonged closure of Naranag has badly affected hundreds of families associated with horse riding services, trekking guides, tourism transport and small businesses dependent on tourist movement in the area.
The MLA also pointed out that he had earlier raised the issue in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and urged the administration to take an early decision in view of the growing public concern.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha assured sympathetic consideration of the demand and stated that a decision regarding the reopening of Naranag would be taken soon while keeping in view the concerns and economic dependence of local residents on tourism-related activities.
Sources said Naranag, known as the gateway to the famous Seven Lakes trek and considered a major trekking destination in Kashmir, has remained closed since the Pahalgam attack last year due to security concerns.
While several tourist destinations across Kashmir were reopened in phases, Naranag continues to remain shut, affecting tourism activities in the region.
Locals said dozens of families dependent on tourism have suffered severe financial losses over the past months and appealed to authorities for immediate reopening of the destination.
