Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday said a complete development plan would be prepared for developing the Janjehli area from a tourism point of view to make this area a major tourist destination.

Addressing the closing ceremony of Janjehli Tourism Festival-2022 at Janjehli in the Seraj area of Mandi district, Thakur said that the festival was aimed at promoting tourism activities in the area which has been immensely blessed with natural beauty and a salubrious climate.

The whole area has immense tourism potential and once fully exploited it could emerge as a new tourist destination for the tourists. In addition, Shikari Mata Temple in the area was not only an important center from a religious point of view but was also gradually emerging as a favorite place for tourists. The state government was committed to developing this place from a tourism point of view by creating adequate tourism infrastructure in the area, he added.

Thakur stated that the ADB Project was being implemented in the state to develop lesser-known tourist destinations under the ‘Nai Raahein, Nai Manzilein’ programme. A mega tourism project of Club Mahindra was coming up at Janjheli and would be completed within the next few months. Rs 3.60 crore Inspection Hut inaugurated by him today at Janjehli would go a long way in providing boarding and lodging facilities to the tourists visiting the area, the CM said

He further stated that all the major tourist destinations in the area have been connected with roads which would surely promote tourism development in the region. In the times to come, the area would not only witness the arrival of tourists from all over the country, but tourists from other parts of the world would also visit the area.

Besides, the state government was ensuring all round and equitable development of every area of the state, with special focus on those areas which remained neglected so far due to one reason or another.

The government would provide 50 percent concession on fares in HTRC buses to the women commuters and free power up to 125 units per month would be given to the domestic electricity consumers. Free water in rural areas of the state is also being provided to the people. But it was surprising these decisions were not going well with the Congress leaders. These leaders should voluntarily give up the free power being provided to the consumers and if they wish they can even pay the bills of other consumers, he added.