Srinagar, July 08 (KNS): Even after passing of almost 15 days, the post of chief executive officer, Gulmarg development authority (GDA), looking after the affairs of world-famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in North Kashmir's Baramulla district, is lying vacant, thereby hampering the smooth functioning of all important development authority. 

Sources told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the post is lying vacant for the past 15 days after Inam-ul-Haq Sidique, who was CEO GDA was transferred and posted as joint director information department. 

They said that the vacant post of CEO, an important development authority as it looks after the world-famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, the smooth functioning of GDA has got hampered and has also paved for illegal constructions in the area. 

"Since there is no one to look after the affairs of GDA, the illegal encroachers are on prowl in Gulmarg, constructing illegal structures in the area in the absence of proper watch and ward. GDA should not remain without CEO for a longer period as it is an important development authority," they said. 

They said that given the Covid-19 pandemic situation and peak tourist season, the development authority must not remain headless, as the authority has to look after Covid-19 SOPs. 

"There should be a check whether Covid-19 SOPs are being followed by the tourists who arrive here as tourist season has started amid the Covid-19 pandemic, but due to the absence of CEO GDA, the Covid norms go for a toss at this famous tourist destination," they said, 

Meanwhile, sources also informed KNS that for the past one month and 18 days, the post of executive officer Municipal committee Tangmarg is also lying vacant, raising eyebrows over the functioning of the departments in famous ski-resort of Gulmarg. (KNS)