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| Pahalgam hoteliers running their business at the cost of state exchequer | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 25: The hoteliers in the world famous tourist resort of Pahalgam have been running their business illegally at the cost of state exchequer as their lease agreement with the state government has expired 14 years ago.
Sources said that since the expiry of the lease agreement between the government and influential hoteliers in 1997 the later continue to run their business illegally. "In 1957 the government headed by Bakhshi Ghulam Mohammad keeping in consideration the accommodation of the tourists allotted
at least 1000 Kanals of state land to some private parties for the construction of hotels and guest-houses. The lease as per the agreement between the two was valid for 40 years only, " sources said. They said that 14 years have passed since the expiry of the lease the government is yet to renew the same.
Sources and locals further said that the hoteliers who had been allotted few kanals of land on lease in violation of the norms encroached huge chunks of land under the garb of the lease agreement later.
"Most of the hoteliers have illegally occupied much more land than allotted to them on lease in 1954 and have even raised structures even on the forest land amid the alpines and on the banks of Lidder river at the cost of fragile environs of the tourist spot," they said.
The locals demand the proper assessment of the land allotted on lease and the land in use by the hoteliers at present.
They accused the government of not reviewing the rent of the leased land that the hoteliers were supposed to pay towards the revenue department.
"It is beyond my comprehension how the hoteliers got permission for re-construction and repair of their hotels even after the expiry of the lease agreement," said a local.
A top revenue official with out wishing to be named said that the matter of the lease renewal has been brought under the notice of the government many a time during past few years but they seem to be least concerned about the matter.
Admitting that the hoteliers are running their business illegally since past many years chief executive officer, Pahalgam Development Authority, Mir Altaf Ahmad said ,"Yes the lease agreement between the hoteliers and government has expired several years ago but i have taken a concrete step in this regard and sent the proposal of the lease renewal to the government along with all the details,". He, however said that there is no response from the government yet.
He also admitted that many hoteliers have illegally occupied the the land under the garb of the lease agreement.
"I sought the revenue records of the leased land in Pahalgam in which it was found that some hoteliers have encroached upon more land than allotted to them on lease," CEO said. |
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