Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 31: For want of follow-up exercise by the concerned bureaucrats, several announcements made by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti aimed at giving necessary impetus to tourism promotion in Nubra-Turtuk valley of Ladakh have remained confined to the papers despite the lapse of nearly one year.
The non-seriousness from all the concerned quarters is notwithstanding the fact that Nubra-Turtuk valley is visited by lakhs of tourists both domestic and foreign every year but the area even lacks adequate number of toilet blocks for them what to talk of other amenities.
During the past three years the people of Nubra through their elected representative Deldan Namgyal have been demanding Tourism Development Authority for the area on the pattern of such bodies for other tourist places on the ground that the area fulfills the requisite criteria such as unique landscape, sand dunes with presence of Bactrian camel, highest motor-able road, ancient monasteries and mosques, interesting trekking routes, festivals and the vibrant culture of Muslims and Buddhist communities.
Finally, their demand received attention of the Government when Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti during her visit to Turtuk on December 23, 2016 made announcement regarding setting up of a Tourism Development Authority for Nubra valley while admitting that nature has bestowed the area with immense tourism potential which was required to be exploited to the optimum, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
She also announced an amount of Rs 17 crore for creation of necessary infrastructure to meet the requirement of the tourists. Even it was announced that a Cultural Institute would be set-up at Turtuk for the promotion and preservation of local culture, music and language besides an interpretation centre for the information and guidance of tourists visiting the area.
However, there was no timely follow-up action from the concerned bureaucrats on the announcements of the Chief Minister which is evident from the fact that formal notification regarding establishment of Tourism Development Authority for Nubra was issued vide SRO-379 on September 12, 2017—nearly 10 months after the announcement.
By way of separate SRO-380 also dated September 12, 2017, the Government even appointed Chief Minister as Chairperson and 11 Members of the Nubra Tourism Development Authority. However, till date neither the Tourism Development Authority has been made formally functional nor an amount of Rs 17 crore released, sources informed while disclosing that till date even Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Authority has not been appointed what to talk of establishing its office.
“This is notwithstanding the fact that appointment of CEO is imperative to prepare plans for creation of infrastructure to meet the requirement of the visiting tourists and start communications with the Tourism Department on various vital aspects including release of funds”, sources further regretted, adding “appointment of CEO is also imperative to pay focused attention on the ongoing projects”.
“We have not heard anything about establishment of Cultural Institute as was announced by the Chief Minister”, admitted an officer on the condition of anonymity, adding “similar is the fate of interpretation centre and creation of wayside amenities”.
They further informed that even survey of Turtuk-Haanu road, which was also announced by the Chief Minister, has not been conducted till date. “The most astonishing aspect is that even several concerned officers of the Leh district administration are not aware of this particular announcement what to talk of initiating follow-up action”, sources added.
When contacted, MLA Nubra Deldan Namgyal, who is yelling for adequate tourist facilities during the past nearly three years, remarked, “it is unfortunate that even announcements of the Chief Minister have not been translated into reality despite lapse of nearly one year”, adding “in the absence of seriousness from the concerned authorities and for want of sufficient funds even the toilet blocks are being constructed by utilizing Constituency Development Fund (CDF)”.
“I have completed half of the tenure as MLA demanding creation of infrastructure for tourism promotion but till date Government has failed to make even Tourism Development Authority functional”, he regretted, adding “I have been raising the issue in each and every session of Legislative Assembly and had even sought the intervention of Governor but unfortunately justice continues to elude the people of Nubra valley whose livelihood is purely linked with tourism related activities”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Nubra-Turtuk is one of the best destinations in Ladakh region and during the period between April and August this year a total of 1,19,000 domestic tourists and 13,900 foreign tourists visited the Valley. “How unfortunate it is that announcements of none else than the Chief Minister for an area being visited by such a large number of tourists have remained confined to papers”, sources remarked.
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