7-member panel to prepare governance mechanism of selected tourist destinations

Jammu, Nov 27: A 7-member panel will prepare and suggest a holistic framework for strengthening the governance mechanism of selected tourist destinations in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.

The Administrative Secretary, Finance Department will be the chairperson while the Administrative Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department; Administrative Secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department; Administrative Secretary, Revenue Department; Administrative Secretary, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and a representative of Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment (not below the rank of Additional Secretary) will be its members.

Administrative Secretary, Tourism Department will be its member secretary.

“The committee may co-opt any member, as required and shall submit its report within a period of 45 days,” it has been directed.

As per its terms of reference, the panel has been asked to prepare and suggest a roadmap along with a holistic framework for strengthening the governance structures of selected Tourism Development Authorities (TDAs).

While preparing the empowered framework, the committee will have to keep in consideration the challenges or issues from past learning and financially viable governance structures.

It will have to balance the developmental needs with ecological sustainability and carrying capacity of the ecosystem.

Understanding the best practices or success from across India and world and localizing those practices, the panel will keep in consideration limiting the role of government to basic or essential infrastructural requirements for supporting development while facilitating private developers subject to strict, fair and transparent enforcement or regulation.

The framework, as per terms of reference, should suggest governance structure of an empowered organization with in-built check and balance mechanism.