J-K: "Will be able to achieve pre-Pahalgam status by December", says Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat during his Anantnag Sun temple visit

Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 19 (ANI): Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited the Sun Temple in Anantnag on Thursday.
The Union Minister said that the way tourism has recovered in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 1.5 months, the administration will be able to achieve pre-Pahalgam status by December.
"Wapas acche din lautenge...The way tourism has recovered in J&K in the last 1.5 months, we will be able to achieve pre-Pahalgam status by December", Shekhawat told ANI.
The tourist flow has reportedly gone down after a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.
Earlier, on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, organised a one-day national workshop at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education - Arid Forest Research Institute (ICFRE-AFRI), Jodhpur.
The theme of the event was "Strategies for Combating Desertification and Drought", focusing on sustainable land management in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, according to a release by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The event was graced by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, as Chief Guest in the August presence of Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Rajendra Gehlot.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, highlighted India's proactive measures to combat desertification and promote ecological restoration. He emphasised the importance of sustainable agricultural practices, community-driven initiatives, and the preservation of natural ecosystems, according to the release.
Union Minister Yadav pointed out that a significant portion of India's land is facing challenges due to desertification, primarily caused by unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive use of fertilisers like urea, and indiscriminate pesticide application. He stressed that such practices not only degrade the land but also pose a threat to food security and biodiversity, the release added.
In line with India's commitment to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the government has adopted a comprehensive approach focusing on ecosystem restoration, drought resilience, and biodiversity enhancement. Yadav emphasised that healthy land is crucial for regional stability and economic prosperity, urging nations to join efforts in combating land degradation. (ANI)