Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 20: Yet another instance of discrimination with Jammu based tourist development project has come to fore as Mantalai- Sudhamahadev-Patnitop tourist facilities sanctioned years back (2016-17), gets nominal funds for its development.
Sources informed Early Times that under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD, the Union Ministry of Tourism had sanctioned seven projects worth 611.21 Crores for the state of Jammu and Kashmir wherein one project mainly based on Jammu- Mantalai-Sudhamahadev-Patnitop worth Rs 97.82 Crores but against the sanctioned money, this project got only 20 percent (Rs 19.56) of the total amount.
The sources alleged that projects sanctioned to Kashmir valley or, are, affiliated to Kashmir, have been gotten more than 50 percent funds against the sanctioned money", alleged sources while wishing anonymity.
It is pertinent to mention here that in 2016-17, seven projects , Integrated Development of tourism infrastructure Projects under Himalayan Circuit, Integrated Development of Tourist Facilities at Jammu-Rajouri-Shopian- Pulwama under Himalayan Circuit theme, Integrated Development of Tourist Facilities Under the Construction of Assets in lieu of those destroyed in floods in 2014 and Integrated development of tourist facilities at Anantnag- Kisthwar-Pahalgam-Daksun- Ranjit sagar Dam, Integrated development of Gulmarg-Baramulla-Kupware-Leh and Development of Hazratbal were sanctioned.
"These projects obtained the sanctioned money of total amount of Rs 41. 48 (50%), Rs 48.19 (50%), Rs 74.70 (75%) and Rs 48.19 (50%) and 19.92 Crores so far against total amount of Rs 82.97, Rs 96.38, Rs 98.70, Rs 96.39 and Rs 19.92 Crores", said an official who deputed there to carry out the development projects and added that only the purely Jammu based tourist facilities project Mantalai-Sudhamahadev-Patnitop project has been getting only less than 20 percent funds so far.
They further said that after repeatedly requests forward to Union Ministry of Tourism for releasing of more funds, they never heed to matter so far, resulting, either the development of tourist facilities to be stalled or executing on snail's pace which shows sheer discrimination to Jammu and that too happening under the rules of BJP government. |
