Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 3: Despite significant expenditure on constructing tourist huts in Handwara area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, many now remain in a dilapidated state, prompting anger among locals over wasted taxpayers’ money.
Residents of Rajwar and Mawar areas alleged that the huts, built by the Tourism Department to benefit both locals and tourists, are now defunct due to neglect. “Authorities have neglected these huts, wasting taxpayers’ money,” Asif Ahmad, a local resident, said.
He added that these huts were intended to enhance local tourism and provide economic benefits by attracting visitors. However, the current state of disrepair has made them unusable. “We were hopeful that these huts would boost our local economy and provide a place for tourists to stay, but now they are just eyesores,” he said.
Locals said that if the government cannot maintain these huts, there is no justification for the initial expenditure. “There is no point in spending so much money if the huts are not kept in good condition,” Bashir Ahmad, another resident said.
This sentiment is echoed by many in the district, who feel that the neglect of these facilities represents a significant misuse of public funds. The residents are now calling for urgent repairs to the damaged huts to ensure they serve their intended purpose. “We need these huts repaired so they can be useful again,” a resident said. He added that there is a strong desire to see the huts restored to a condition where they can once again attract tourists and generate revenue.
The locals said that the current state of the huts represents not only a financial loss but also a missed opportunity to enhance local tourism and support the economy. The call for repair is a bid to rectify the situation and make most of the existing infrastructure.
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