At a time when tourism is considered to be the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy, the state government seems to have turned a blind eye towards the newly designated tourist spot Veer in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

A small picturesque village in Hygam area, six kilometres from Sopore town, Veer is surrounded by beautiful mountains and flowing water stream.

Although praised for its mesmerising beauty and fresh water in the region, Veer remains to be an unknown tourist spot even for the people from other parts of the valley due to lack of development.

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Though it has been more than a decade since Veer was designated as a tourist spot, the destination is yet to get a facelift in real sense to lure tourists.

Since then, the developmental work has been continuing on snail’s pace. This is raising many questions on state government’s claim of spending a huge sum for promoting tourism sector of the state for bringing Kashmir on global tourist map.

Taking a dig at the tourism department, locals allege that the department is quite apathetic towards this new tourist spot.

“Tourism department does not show any inclination towards this site. Had they been serious about it, they would have pressurised the government to complete it without any delay,”

says Sajad Ahmad Parray, a local.

Veer is considered to be the first and last gate of Niglinala – the Nallah – which caters to more than a dozen villages around Sopore town quenching their thirst and watering their vast tracts of agricultural land. Further, a group of locals believe that the 2016 uprising also hit the development work badly. 

“It is the only place in this area where local people throng on Sundays. The idea of bringing Veer to the regional and global tourist map has failed miserably. Initially the work was started with much gusto but after 2016 uprising, it petered out. Since then work goes at snail’s pace and thereby misses deadlines without any repentance,”

they said.

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Locals demand immediate intervention of government to bring Veer on state’s tourist map.

“By bringing Veer on development map will not only boost the tourism sector but will also help them to earn livelihood. It has potential to become one of the top tourist attraction points of the state.

says Abdul Rehman, a resident of Sopore

“Though the government gave it a tourist destination designation, but owing to the irresponsible approach of government officials and contractors, its construction for beautification has not culminated yet,”

he added.