SRINAGAR: MLA Khansahib Saif-ud-Din Bhat urged the Jammu Kashmir Government to reopen the popular tourist destinations of Doodhpathri and Tosamaidan, questioning why these sites remain closed when other destinations like Pahalgam and Gulmarg have already been reopened to visitors.
Speaking in the Assembly, Bhat expressed concern over the continued closure of these scenic locations, stating that even the Chief Justice and Army officials had recently visited Doodhpathri and found the situation to be completely normal. “If everything is normal, what is the justification for keeping these places shut?” he asked.
He highlighted the economic distress faced by local vendors and traders dependent on tourism, saying many are burdened with bank debts and struggling to survive due to the prolonged shutdown of tourist activity. “These people have no other source of income. Keeping these spots closed only deepens their misery,” he said.
Bhat urged the government to take immediate steps to reopen Doodhpathri and Tosamaidan to tourists, ensuring livelihoods are restored and the local economy of the Khansahib constituency is revived.
