Srinagar: National Conference on Wednesday said the Tourism Ministry in J&K was functioning in an ad-hoc manner with the Chief Minister having absolved himself of the Ministerial duties towards this crucial sector of vital economic significance to the State.
NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, while lashing out at the J&K Government for violating codal formalities in the allotment of heli-services contracts to major tourism destinations, said the process was not only murky but brazen in its completely lack of authenticity. There is a complete lack of transparency and accountability in the Tourism Department and the Tourism Development Corporation which is adversely affecting the Tourism Industry in the State, NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani said in a statement issued from Srinagar.
Mufti Sahab being the Tourism Minister will be solely and directly responsible in case there is any wrongdoing in the allotment of the heli-services contracts. The whole process has been murky and was rushed through to apparently benefit pre-selected firms in an alleged quid-pro-quo arrangement with the State Government. Since this Ministry is led by the Chief Minister himself, this is a grave matter and needs to be proved. Have there been any kickbacks that affected fairness in this process? And who has received such favours so as to influence transparency of the entire process? The Chief Minister needs to answer, Nasir Aslam Wani said.
There are very serious indications that the State Government is planning to allot key hotel sites in the Valley to pre-selected individuals and it appears this could be the actual motive behind the constitution of the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB). Just like it has been done by JKTDC in the allotment of heli-services contracts, efforts are being made to allot key hotel sites to a chosen few without any transparent tendering procedures. The Mufti Government is more interested in the pursuit of these self-seeking motives rather than focusing on rehabilitating the States devastated Tourism Sector which has been left in the lurch after the September 2014 Floods, Nasir Aslam Wani further stated.
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