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| Outsourcing of tourist huts to private entrepreneurs a setback to development authorities | | |  Syed Tahir Bukhari
KUPWARA, Oct 19: The huts at Radi Chowkibal and Reshwari Nowgam in Kupwara district of North Kashmir have been outsourced to private entrepreneurs by Chief Executive Officer Bangus Development Authority for their self interests and the staff has been attached to Tourist Reception Center (TRC) Kupwara.
A local from Handwara Nazir Ahmad Khan told Early Times that in 2006 J&K Tourism department had recognized Drangyari-Chowkibal and Reshwari-Nouwgam but after completion of these two Huts they were given to private entrepreneurs.
"In 2010 three Tourist Reception Centers (TRCs) were structured, Tourist Reception Center Kupwara, Tourist Reception Handwara, and Tourist Reception Center Chotipora and Few huts (Arramgah) rest places were constructed. Aramgah Wader, Kashtwara, Nougam, Chotipora, Handwara and almost other twelve huts" these huts are properties of government and how they can give it to private entrepreneurs", Khan complained.
"Tourism department has made a high class publicity of these Aramgah's and it was only made for private business which is a complete violation of norms laid down by government from time to time" he alleged.
Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department had taken the decision to bring Kupwara on Tourism Map in 2002 and made three projects, Bangus Project, Drangyari-Chowkibal and Lolab Development Authority. Government has invested Millions of rupees on these projects which are in shambles due to callous attitude of the authorities.
According to sources, the huts at Radi Chowkibal and Reshwari Nowgam have been outsourced to private entrepreneurs for their self interests and the staff has been attached to Tourist Reception Center (TRC) Kupwara.
Fayaz Ahmad of Handwara a social activist says that, "in 1973 a Switzerland based Non Governmental Organization (NGO) was working here in Bangus Valley and in the same year they (NGO) said that, "if government l concentrates on this valley and develops this, the world's biggest Golf Course will be Bangus valley because of its natural beauty.
"Crores were spent on these projects by tourism department, and after completion, its one room is being given for 24 hours at the cost of rupees 534, and there are six rooms of every Aramgah, and for a year one has to pay an amount of rupees 96120 which is sheer injustice with the tourists.
"The Shamswari guesthouse is ready to host the tourists. We have complete boarding and lodging "facilities for tourists here. Besides this work on tourist reception centre Kupwara has been complete," officials said, adding that the blacktopping of road from Shameswari to Potwari is going on in full swing.
A group of people from Kupwara District told Early Times that they are annoyed with tourism department for outsourcing huts in Bangus valley, saying this will hamper government efforts to develop Bangus valley as tourist destination.
However Chief Executive Officer Bangus Developmental Authority (BDA) Mohammad Yasin Khan could not be contacted due to poor mobile phone network in the area.
Meanwhile senior official from BDA wishing anonymity said that, "the decision of outsourcing huts at Bangus was a government policy." |
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