By | Dr AR Lone
Karnah: The Save Sharda Committee Kashmir (Regd.) has expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for announcing the construction of a Yatri Niwas at Sharda Temple, Teetwal along the Line of Control (LoC). The announcement was made in the Assembly in response to a question raised by MLA Karnah, Javed Mirchal. Additionally, the Chief Minister revealed plans for a cafeteria and emphasized home stays as a key initiative to promote border tourism in the Karnah region.
In a press release, Ravinder Pandita, Head and Founder of Save Sharda Committee Kashmir (Regd.), welcomed the decision but raised concerns about the management of the Yatri Niwas. “The committee demands that once the Yatri Niwas is completed, it should be handed over to our committee to manage and run it,” he stated.
The Save Sharda Committee has already constructed and maintained the Sharda Temple and a Sikh Gurdwara at Teetwal, with Ajaz Ahmad serving as the local coordinator. The committee urged the Tourism Department to allocate funds for the renovation and upgradation of home stays for visitors.
Last year, over 10,000 pilgrims and tourists visited the Sharda Temple, highlighting the growing need for accommodation. Currently, 31 home stays have been identified to cater to the influx of visitors.
This initiative is expected to boost religious tourism in the region while enhancing local economic opportunities.
