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| Is Omar aware that JK owns a huge property in Amritsar ? | | Rs 100 Crore property in shambles | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 3: At a time when the Jammu & Kashmir Government leaves no stone unturned in creating new administrative units across the state which in-turn would have huge financial implications on the state, the Omar Abdullah led Government seems unaware about the fact that they own property worth more than one hundred crores in Amritsar city which is totally in a pathetic condition.
JK House Amritsar :
Jammu & Kashmir House is located on posh Court Road Amritsar and is surrounded by 20 kanals of land and the building plus land was purchased by Jammu & Kashmir Government from a businessman namely Ganga Ram Bal Mokand in the year 1950 under a Cabinet Order No: 657-C Dated : 16.6.1950 . The Government had purchased this property for an amount of 92,000 and the place was commonly known as "Kashmir Trade Agency "during those times . This trade agency was operational from the year 1950's till late 70's and a Trade Agent from J&K Government used to be posted at Amritsar to operate from this place.
All the official, business between J&K Government and other neighboring states were looked after the same officer. Such trade agents were posted in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata as well .
The building was renovated few years back but the interiors , furniture and other furnishing has not been replaced. There are large and spacious rooms in J&K House Amritsar but they are full of dust and as these rooms are hardly cleaned as there is no sweeper to do the said job. The sources say that the sofas, chairs, bedding and other furnishing is very old and this indicates that Government is disinterested towards maintaining this heritage building which has been constructed during the British rule.
“There are broken wardrobes and furniture and floor tiles are covered with dust. The bathrooms were so dirty that one cannot even think of using them”, said a Mohammad Shuja a Kashmiri who has visited the place few months back.
"It is ridiculous that department of Hospitality & Protocol which maintains this land and building charges Rs 1000 for 24 hours for the third class rooms", Shuja added.
The JK house Amritsar is looked after by the Directorate Hospitality & Protocol and Chief Minister has always been the in-charge Minister of this department. Presently there is one Manager, one Mali (gardener) , Telephone operator and a Chowkidar (night watchman) posted at JK House Amritsar. According to an official the sweeper retired more than a year back and till date no alternate arrangement has been made and that is the reason that JK house is in a shabby condition. The post of Telephone operator is non functional and the said official who hails from Amritsar was promoted from waiter to telephone operator some years back and now he hardly visits JK house inspite of the fact that he gets a hefty salary from J&K Government treasury . There is no cook or Farash (housekeeping in-charge) available in JK house Amritsar.
Recently a middle aged man namely Ghulam Hassan Khan from Devipora (Anantnag) had gone to Amandeep Hospital Amritsar few weeks back where his son was had to undergo some surgery in knee lower. The man wanted to hire a room at JK house with the intention that he will get a room on very nominal rates . He was putting up in a hotel at Amritsar for more than a week and had to stay for another 10 days in the city . When this poor man came to know that he has to pay Rs 1000 per night for hiring a shabby room at the JK house Amritsar
he had no words to argue with the Manager but to return empty handed.
" I wonder for whose benefit the J&K house Amritsar is meant for ? , how can a poor man like me afford to pay Rs 1000 per night for dusty and filthy room with no facilities even for food? It is better that J&K Government must sell this place," said angry Ghulam Hassan Khan while talking to Early Times.
Hundreds of people from J&K visit Amritsar every month . Majority of them are pilgrims from Sikh community who visit Golden Temple, some visit hospitals, some people have business related work etc but if these people cannot avail the benefit of staying at Jammu & Kashmir
house what is fun of having such a huge property in Amritsar city ? It would be better that Government must immediately hire local sweepers and cooks on contract basis who can keep the property in better condition . At present there are only four bedrooms available in JK house Amritsar and the Government need to construct rooms which should be provided to the visitors from J&K on nominal rates otherwise the property should be sold to Punjab Government or some private business establishment.
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