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| Ski slopes of Gulmarg suffer as Govt shifts attention to Pahalgam | | North-south divide in Kashmir Tourism! | |
Early Times Report
srinagar, Feb 22: Even as ski resort of Gulmarg is seen as the favorite winter destination in Kashmir for ages, the meadows are turning a lackluster, as the state government has allegedly shifted its attention towards promotion of Pahalgam in south Kashmir.
Official sources in Tourism department said they have "instructions from highest quarters that Pahalgam should be promoted the most, especially during winters."
Officials said in the past six months, the government held around six mega events at Pahalgam, each costing millions to the state exchequer. "Even though such festivals would have been good for summer months, this time we're told to make major expenditures in Pahalgam even during winters when actually Gulmarg happens to be a favorite with the tourists," said an official on the condition of anonymity.
Sources said some senior leaders from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party including one Member Parliament from north Kashmir have taken a "serious note of the promotion of Pahalgam at the cost of Gulmarg."
Sources in the PDP said some of the party leaders from the south Kashmir including one who has been made Vice Chairperson of a tourism corporation have given standing instructions to the Tourism department to keep Pahalgam in the top-most priority.
The tourism department officials said even proposals for holding events in Pahalgam get easily approved without "completion of requisite formalities."
While the PDP leaders from north Kashmir are scheduled to call a meeting with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the people from areas like Tangmarg and Gulmarg are already up in arms against the alleged discrimination with the area.
A prominent social activist from Tangmarg said it was really unfortunate that the government was ignoring Gulmarg, though it has been the backbone of tourism during winters in Kashmir.
When contacted a senior official in the tourism department downplayed the matter. "There are some politicians who want to make a mountain out of mole hill, but our department is trying to explore potential of each and every area of Jammu and Kashmir and not Gulmarg alone," the official said. |
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