“Will provide support to hoteliers”
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 12: District Magistrate, Baramulla, Dr GN Itoo, today made it clear that he won’t compromise on the encroachments that have taken place in the ski-resort Gulmarg, promising that the genuine issues of the hoteliers will be put forth to the Government for early redressal.
The DM had called a meeting of all the stakeholders in Gulmarg to discuss the issues they are facing about granting lease and other pressing issues. The meeting was attended by 69 hoteliers of Gulmarg.
“I assure you that you will be heard, everyone will be heard. But, I reiterate that the encroachments will be dealt with strictly. The HC has directed me to inspect the record; we have to make sure there are no discrepancies,” Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla Dr Itoo told hoteliers.
He, however, made it clear that there will be no compromise on what is illegal. “We are ready to provide any support and we need to have a successful tourism season in the winters. If there is any authentic proof, we will make additions, but no compromise on what is illegal,” he said.
“It is my duty as DM to put forth your demands in front of Government. The Government has to decide about it; some records are with the Revenue Department and others are with Gulmarg Development Authority. We have to find a way,” he said.
The team constituted will stay in Gulmarg for two days and will meet all the 69 hoteliers on Wednesday and Thursday. The committee will also verify the records and other permissions that many hoteliers have stated they possess.
“Committee will come here for two days; everyone will be given a chance to present their side of the story. We have started a reconciliation process; there will be a process of record inspection and the committee will take decision about it,” he said.
A hotelier told Excelsior that post-August 5 last year, several laws changed and due to which the hoteliers are facing difficulties in getting the extension of the lease that was granted to them. “Today the DM told us about the process of sorting it out. The issue is that of the lease extension which now requires additional documents as well,” he said.
With regard to the issue of the lease, Itoo said: “It is a policy matter, there was a transition last year, we had submitted a draft and in between laws were changed. I will bring it all into the notice of the Government and the matter will be taken up accordingly.”
He impressed that there is a need for implementing the directions of the High Court with the stakeholders on board. “Everything will be as per the law and the directions,” he said. The meeting was called after massive drive that was launched in Gulmarg by District Administration Last week during which around 40 kanals of land and eight hotels were retrieved and handed them over to Gulmarg Development Authority and two dozen structures were demolished in Gulmarg.
The land was retrieved by a committee headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Mohammad Ahsan Mir, and comprising CEO GDA, SDM Gulmarg, Tehsildar Tangmarg, DFO Tangmarg, Executive Officer Municipality Tangmarg, SHO Gulmarg. The committee was formed by the DM Baramulla, GN Itoo, on High Court directions.
The Committee also recovered eight hotels which were constructed unauthorisedly. They include Pine Spring, New Zum Zum, Golf View, Khilan Hut, Pride Resort, Falak Hut, Green Tree Lodge And Bisco Hut. They were sealed and handed over to the GDA.
The committee demolished 10 tin sheds, 2 guard and staff rooms and 12 fences that were constructed illegally and on Government land.
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