Reopening of Aru valley: Rafi Mir expresses gratitude to LG Sinha

Srinagar, Jun 29: Former legislator representing the Pahalgam constituency and Apni Party General Secretary, Rafi Ahmad Mir, on Sunday expressed his deep gratitude to Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha for intervening and ensuring the reopening of Aru Valley, one of the prominent sites in Pahalgam that had been closed in the wake of the horrific terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam on April 22.

According to a statement, on June 16, Rafi Ahmad Mir called on LG Sinha at the Srinagar Raj Bhawan, presenting him with a written submission urging LG’s intervention for the reopening of Aru Valley, a press release said.

He had pleaded that, like other sites in Pahalgam, Aru Valley is an important destination visited by a large number of tourists, which eventually helps provide livelihood opportunities to locals — including those involved in tourism services, pony rides, cab driving, and those affiliated with handicrafts and hospitality — who are directly dependent on tourism in Aru valley.