No visible progress on CM’s announcements made in 2016
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 30: Creating hurdles in tapping immense tourism potential of Nubra-Turtuk valley, the PDP-BJP Coalition Government is soft-paddling on making functional the Tourism Development Authority, which was created by way of a formal notification in the Government Gazette nearly seven months back. Moreover, there is no discernible progress on the announcements made by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti during her visit to the area in December 2016.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that following persistent demand from the people of Nubra, the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti during her visit to Turtuk on December 23, 2016 made announcement regarding setting up of Tourism Development Authority for Nubra valley so as to tap the immense tourism potential of the area in a planned manner.
However, much to the disappointment of the people and their elected representatives it took nearly 10 months to the Tourism Department to issue formal notification regarding establishment of Nubra Tourism Development Authority.
Vide SRO-379 dated September 12, 2017 it was revealed by the Tourism Department that Diskit and Panamik Community Blocks fully and some areas of Turtuk Community Block will be the areas to be covered by the Nubra Tourism Development Authority.
Vide SRO-380 also dated September 12, 2017 the Government appointed Minister Incharge Tourism as Chairperson and Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Leh, Minister of State for Tourism, MLA Nubra, Administrative Secretaries of Planning, Finance, Tourism Departments, Deputy Commissioner Leh, Director Tourism Kashmir, Chief Town Planner Kashmir and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) concerned as Members of the Nubra Development Authority while as Chief Executive Officer of the Authority was made Member Secretary.
However, Nubra Tourism Development Authority has not been made functional till date. “Neither Chief Executive Officer has been appointed nor posts of staff created by the Government and in the absence of CEO and staff tourism related activities in Nubra-Turtuk valley are still being handled by the Leh Tourism Development Authority”, sources said.
“It seems that notification regarding creation of Nubra Development Authority was issued by the Government just to befool the people of the area otherwise there was no justification behind not making it functional during the past nearly seven months”, they regretted.
Moreover, there is no discernible progress on the announcements made by the Chief Minister during her visit to Turtuk on December 23, 2016, sources said while disclosing that though some funds have been placed at the disposal of National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) for creation of tourism related infrastructure yet nothing is visible on ground.
Similarly, Government has yet not deputed any team to finalize site for establishment of Cultural Institute at Turtuk as was announced by the Chief Minister in order to promote and preserve local culture, music and language, sources said while disclosing that people and their MLA Deldan Namgyal at their own level have identified some sites but the final decision will have to be taken by the Government.
When contacted, MLA Nubra Deldan Namgyal expressed anguish over the approach of the Government towards Nubra-Turtuk valley and said, “it seems that notification regarding establishment of Nubra Development Authority was issued just to befool us. Had there been seriousness in tapping tourism potential of the area the Government would have immediately made the Development Authority functional”.
He said, “NBCC, which has been entrusted task of creation of tourism related infrastructure, is neither consulting the elected representative of the people nor the Hill Development Council”, adding “I have heard that Government has earmarked Rs 9.50 crore for establishment of Cultural Institute at Turtuk but no official team has so far visited the area to finalize the site for the same”.
The non-serious approach of the Government in making Nubra Tourism Development Authority functional is notwithstanding the fact that area is known for its unique landscape, sand dunes with presence of Bactrian camel, highest motor-able road, ancient monasteries and mosques, interesting trekking routes, festivals and vibrant culture of Muslims and Buddhist communities.
Follow our WhatsApp channel