Corrupt practices render tourism development authorities in south Kashmir defunct

Srinagar, Nov 15 (KNS): Four tourism development authorities in south Kashmir have become defunct due to alleged corrupt practices by the officers and lack of staff.
The erstwhile state government had created several development authorities to give a flip to the tourism sector. In south Kashmir, Pahalgam, Verinag, Aharbal and Kokernag tourism development authorities were formed.

However, at and Verinag tourism development authorities are without Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) for the last one and half years. In all the four development authorities separate engineering wings had been created for carrying developments works. According to norms, all the engineering works in the development authority had to be done under the supervision of an Executive Engineer.

However, sources told KNS that in the all the four developmental authorities engineering wing is being headed by an assistant executive engineer (AEE) level officer.

They said in Kokernag Tourism Development Authority works worth Rs 100 crore have been executed in the last four years, but on ground there is no visibility of these works. Sources said huge amount of Rs 25 crore were spent on mere construction of a hotel type of accommodation for the tourists.

Similarly, in Achabal Tourism Development Authority lakhs of rupees were spent on Gym facility, but the equipment is now rusting in a single room now, they said. Apart from that no visible developmental work was carried out.

“Due to lack of accountability, the funds are being spent without any codal formalities due to which huge embezzlements have happened. In some cases bills have been withdrawn twice on same work and the amount was distributed among the engineers, officials and contractors,” they alleged.

Every year, sources said, Rs five crore are shown as spent on the maintenance of road upto Amarnath yatra road. “Also hundreds of employees, including casual labourers, have been appointed through backdoor in these developmental authorities. The CEO of Kokernag Development Authority has not been transferred for the last eight years,” they added. (KNS) 

To Top