Demanding a face lift for River Tawi, All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association today said "massive encroachments" on the river bank must be removed and it should be thrown open for tourism activities.

"We demand immediate removal of encroachments from the banks of River Tawi in Jammu city. It should be beautified," said AJHLA president, Inderjeet Khajuria. The association backed concerns expressed by Jammu-based legislators in both the Houses about vandalising of the river. He said the government had conceded to their "long-pending demand" for setting up of an artificial lake in Tawi and face lift of its banks but regretted that the work on the project was going on at a "slow" pace.

The association also demanded a plant for scientific disposal of solid waste. "Indiscriminate quarry of sand and stones from river Tawi should also be stopped, to maintain its depth," he added.

Traveltechie team had visited Jammu few months back & feel that the river is abundant with beauty especially along the Jammu-Srinagar highway & has great potential for river tourism. Seasonal activities like rafting & short cruises can be organised along the river after considering the impact of such activities on the environment so as to not upset the ecological balance of the nature.