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| TAAI event benefited 'blue-eyed' hoteliers | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 6: With each passing day, the irregularities committed by the Tourism Department officials while holding events, executing projects and works in Jammu and Kashmir are coming to fore.
Well-placed sources told Early Times that the officials have withdrawn a huge bill for holding Indian Travel Congress-2018 and 64th Convention & Exhibition at Srinagar.
Indian Travel Congress-2018 was held by Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) at SKICC and the Tourism Department had said that it will only support the event so that notion of fear among travellers is dispelled and tourism gets boost in the state.
Now it has came to fore that the Tourism Department, under the grab of this extravaganza conference, had benefited 'blue-eyed' hoteliers by paying them exorbitant rates.
The hoteliers, who have received the undue benefits from the department, were allegedly enjoying close proximity with former Director Tourism and former Tourism Minister's coterie.
"At first the department claimed that they were only supporting the TAAI for holding the conference, but later it appeared that the department has withdrawn huge bills on account of boarding and lodging and paid huge amount to these 'blue-eyed' hoteliers," said an official wishing not be named.
He claimed that the department didn't invite quotations as per the norms and instead selected some hotels on the instruction of former the minister's coterie.
"If the department was supposed to provide boarding and lodging facility then the Director Tourism should have invited quotations from the hoteliers. But he flouted the norms and selected hotels at his own will," the official said, adding these hoteliers have been paid exorbitant rates.
Earlier, a team of auditors from the office of Accountant General have also noticed irregularities in Tourism Department in selection of consultant for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and an advertising agency for the purpose of promotion of tourism in Kashmir division.
Sources in the department revealed that a man from Hutmarah village of South Kashmir's Anantnag district who is close to former Works and Tourism minister is calling shots in the department and huge amount was wasted on publicity.
"Rs 2.50 crore were spent on a 60-second film. Similarly money was wasted through other means as well," the sources added. |
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