Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Apr 3: Government today gave its nod to Jammu and Kashmir Golf Development and Management Authority Bill with amendments, which was taken up for consideration and passing in the State Assembly by Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah on behalf of Minister of Tourism, G A Mir, while the Bill for regularization of private security agencies operating in the State was referred to Select Committee for consideration.
While speaking in favour of Management and Development of Golf Authority in the State, Mir Saifullah said that it was long cherished demand that an authority should be set up for management of Golf Courses in the State. However, he accepted the amendments of the members to the draft Bill and also moved one amendment from the Government which too was accepted by the House.
The Minister suggested one amendment in the Finance memorandum of the Bill saying that the word oldest but defunct should be replaced by oldest but needing renovation.
He also accepted the amendment made in the draft by various members suggesting that instead of two renowned sports persons the names of two more golfers be incorporated as members. Earlier the draft Bill was for two eminent golfers and two eminent sportsmen as its other members. Later the House adopted another amendment on the insistence of members that instead of four golfers, three golfers and one local MLA be incorporated as its member.
The Minister said formation of golf regulatory authority was the need of the hour. He however rejected the suggestion of the members that high profile committee has been constituted with CM, Minister of Tourism as its ex-officio chairman and Vice Chairman and MoS Tourism, DGP, Director Tourism and other bureaucrats as its members.
The Minister said that Golf is a high profile game and members should see to it from tourism point of view as tourists within and outside country visit the State and play golf. If such high profile persons come to play, it is necessary that Chief Minister should head the Authority, he added.
He said besides the Tourism Department has to renovate the golf course and hence the Tourism Minister has to be its vice chairman, besides MoS Tourism has to be in the Committee as he will look after in the absence of Tourism Minister and DGP has to be the member as he has to look after the security of high profile people.
The Minister said likewise the Principal Secretary to CM can represent the CM in his absence. Out of four golfers the Government has no objection if one local MLA is also included as member but he should have knowledge of Golf, he added.
Earlier supporting the Bill NC’s Nasir Aslam Wani said that by bringing the Bill Government has fulfilled the long dream of the people associated with golf and congratulated it. He said that golf courses are there all over the country but in J&K they have importance because they are tourism oriented.
He however said two eminent golfers and two eminent sportspersons have been included as its members and sought a clarification whether the two sportspersons should also be golfers or not. Moreover the traditional Golf Courses Committee existing in the State should not be disturbed and kept out of this authority, he suggested.
Harshdev Singh said that the Authority on Golf Courses should be run and managed on scientific and professional lines. But Section 3 of the Act shows that it has a high profile Committee and “I have never seen CM to be ex-officio chairman and Tourism Minister as vice chairman and other high profile people including MoS Tourism, DGP and other bureaucrats as members. There are only two professional golfers as members and it seems that entire Government is involved in the game of golf, he added.
He wanted to know whether Government is making the Authority or it wants that entire Government should play the golf and said what DGP will do with golf and demanded that those who are linked to game be given preference.
Dr Mustafa Kamaal, while congratulating the Government said it will prove beneficial for the State which is an attraction for tourists from the country and abroad. However he also said that by inducting CM, Tourism Minister and other top ranking officers in the Authority it should not look like a Government show and should be developed on the basis of sports. The Authority should be made people friendly so that the players may not face problems.
Prof Chaman Lal Gupta said that Rs 61 crore for the management of the Authority are to be paid by Government and it will be a burden on state exchequer. He said the Golf courses were made by Britishers and common man is not linked to it as it is a high profile game.
He said how much tourism will increase by making this authority is not known and not to talk of common man even the Legislators have not been involved in it. Supporting the Authority he said the people who can pay should come forward in funding it and the State exchequer should not be burdened.
Aijaz Jan also demanded that the local MLA should be the member of the Authority and the rules and regulations for the authority be framed.
The Minister also accepted the members suggestion on J&K Private Security Agencies Regulation Act and sent it to Select Committee for consideration. He appealed the Speaker to frame Select Committee for studying the Bill.
The Minister however said that the Select Committee should study the Bill in a time bound period and clear it.
Earlier some MLAs including Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, Harshdev Singh, Aijaj Jan, G M Saroori, Ashok Kumar pointed out some lacunas in the Bill and suggested that the same be submitted to Select Committee for thorough study and recommendations so that no lacunas are left in it.
Some members even suggested creation of Government’s own security agency instead of private security agency but this suggestion was turned down by the Minister. However NC’s Abdul Gani Malik was in favour of passing the Bill in the present form.
The House also passed the MLAs Daily Sitting Allowance Bill with an amendment made by the Legislative Council which passed it yesterday.
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