Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, Feb 24: In yet another instance of regional imbalance in allocation of funds, the different Tourism Development Authorities of Jammu region have received less funding in the last two years as compared to the authorities falling in Kashmir province.
This information came to light through a reply to the question of Panthers Party MLA Yashpal Kundal in the State Legislative Assembly.
Replying to the question, the Government informed that funds to the tune of Rs 157.37 crore were released to 20 Tourism Development Authorities for the development of tourist related infrastructure in the State during last two fiscals under State and Central plans.
While Jammu's Tourism Development Authorities of Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch Surinsar-Mansar, Lakhanpur- Sarthal and Patnitop received Rs 1328.15 lakh under State Plan in 2012-13, the different authorities in Kashmir, including, Sonamarg, Kokernag, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Verinag, Lolab Bungas, Aharbal, Wullar-Manasbal, Doodhpathri and Yousmarg got funding worth Rs 3749.61 lakh during the same period.
The scenario is not better even in the Central funding during 2012-13 as here again Kashmir's Tourist Development authorities received a lion's share in funding where as the Jammu region remained at the receiving end.
During 2012-13, Central funds to the tune of Rs 1741.82 lakh were sanctioned for different authorities of Kashmir province while the Jammu region's authorities got only Rs 1010.39 lakh.
For the same period, three authorities of Ladakh region including Leh, Kargil and Zanskar got Rs 575 lakh under State Plan while the amount they received under Central funds was worth Rs 80.94 lakh.
The figures with regard to the funding under State and Central plans for the period 2013-14 revealed that the Kashmir region was again favoured over Jammu province thereby giving weightage to the accusations leveled by Jammu leadership from time to time that the region is being ignored and discriminated by the successive state Governments.
In 2013-14, Jammu's share in funds under State Plan was paltry Rs 466.76 lakh while the Kashmir province got Rs 1227.90 lakh which is almost three times more than what Jammu's seven Tourism Development Authorities received.
Under the Central Plan, Jammu was allotted Rs 1553.56 lakh while the Kashmir region got funds worth Rs 2209.13 lakh during the same period.
The Ladakh region's three Tourism Development Authorities received Rs 220.50 lakh under State Plan during 2013-14 while it got Rs 1721.48 lakh under Central funding. |
