TPO replied in full, Tourism Deptt never followed up
*Development without direction threatens sustainability
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 8: In a glaring case of policy paralysis, several Tourism Development Authorities (TDAs) in Jammu and Kashmir continue to function without Master Plans, even as the Government itself acknowledges that such documents are fundamental to sustainable tourism, environmental conservation and long-term economic planning.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that as per the decision taken in a high-level meeting, the Tourism Department, vide letter dated October 28, 2024, approached the Jammu and Kashmir Town Planning Organization (TPO) seeking detailed inputs on framing Master Plans for each Tourism Development Authority separately.
The Tourism Department sought clarity on the financial implications involved in engaging consultants, the time period required for preparation, the procedure to be adopted and the documents to be furnished by the respective Development Authorities.
Though the Town Planning Organization submitted the requisite details to the Tourism Department, the latter has not approached it again for approval, clarification or operationalization of the Master Plan exercise. Due to this, no consultant has been engaged, no timeline finalized and no funds sanctioned, sources informed.
“This is notwithstanding the fact that on February 19, 2025, in a high-level meeting, stress was laid on formulation of a Master Plan for each TDA to ensure systematic and well-planned tourism development. Further, the senior officers underscored the necessity of such strategic planning to boost the tourism sector and create more opportunities for economic growth in the region”, they said.
In the absence of a Master Plan for each Development Authority, the tourism sector will continue to suffer from unregulated growth and infrastructure deficiencies, sources further said, adding, “many Tourism Development Authorities are functioning without a long-term vision, often resulting in haphazard development, ecological strain and poor visitor management systems”.
According to the sources, without Master Plans, eco-sensitive zones, carrying capacity, infrastructure needs and land-use regulation cannot be scientifically determined, which ultimately hampers the sustainability of tourism in these areas.
To ascertain the reasons behind this unexplained delay, EXCELSIOR contacted several officers in the Tourism Department, ranging from Special Secretary to Under Secretary level. However, instead of offering clarity, the officers indulged in blatant buck-passing.
Some officials claimed the matter was pending “at a higher level”, others stated that the file was “under examination”, while a few maintained that the responsibility lay with another section. None could explain why the Town Planning Organization was not approached again with the formal nod to initiate preparation of the Master Plans.
“In the absence of a Master Plan, the Tourism Development Authorities are functioning in a regulatory vacuum. Decisions are taken in an ad-hoc manner, often driven by immediate pressures rather than long-term vision. This approach has already resulted in congestion, environmental degradation, stress on civic amenities and unregulated construction in several tourist destinations”, sources pointed out.
They further said, “the October 2024 correspondence was expected to mark a long-overdue course correction. Instead, it has become yet another instance of procedural formality without follow-up. While the Town Planning Organization, the statutory expert body, discharged its responsibility by providing technical inputs, the Tourism Department failed to take the process forward”.
“In ecologically sensitive Jammu and Kashmir, the cost of such neglect could be irreversible. Without Master Plans, there is no assessment of carrying capacity, no clear zoning for conservation and development, and no roadmap to balance tourism growth with environmental sustainability”, sources said, adding, “as tourism is projected as the economic backbone of the Union Territory, the continued absence of Master Plans for Tourism Development Authorities exposes a dangerous disconnect between stated policy and administrative action”.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the purpose of a Master Plan is to promote growth and guide and regulate present and future development of areas with a perspective of 20-25 years, and such a plan is imperative for each and every tourist destination as tourism is now commonly viewed not only as a major source of employment but also as a tool for conservation and a catalyst for urban and rural regeneration.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
