Integrated development of Mantalai, Sudhmahadev, Patnitop
No plans to use infrastructure like helipad, poly houses
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 25: In a big question mark on its performance, the Tourism Department has failed to meet the deadlines conveyed to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court for the completion of different components of project titled integrated development of Mantalai, Sudhmahadev and Patnitop sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Union Government.
Moreover, plans have yet not been formulated for use of infrastructure like helipad and poly houses constructed by spending crores of rupees as a result of which the same will remain unfruitful expenditure for unspecified period.
Under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Union Government, a project—integrated development of Mantalai, Sudhmahadev and Patnitop having more than 30 different components was sanctioned by the Union Tourism Ministry in the month of September 2016 at a cost of Rs 97.82 crore and National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) was selected as implementing agency.
As there was no satisfactory work on the project, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the High Court by Advocate Sumit Nayyar seeking different directions to the Government particularly Tourism Department and Patnitop Development Authority.
On November 16, 2018, a Division Bench of the High Court issued directions to the Tourism Department to file status report in respect of different developmental works being undertaken at Sudhmahadev, Mantalai and Patnitop along with the projected dates of completion.
At the time of issuance of direction, the DB observed, “though the money is stated to have been released for the project yet the same has not been utilized which reflects that the works have even not commenced”. Accordingly, the Secretary to the Government, Tourism Department was directed to inform the court with respect to the steps taken keeping in view the failure of the executing agency.
In the status report, the then Tourism Secretary Rigzian Sampheal submitted all the details of the project titled integrated development of Mantalai, Sudhmahadev and Patnitop and projected different dates for the completion of different components.
However, the Tourism Department has failed to meet the timelines conveyed to the High Court for the completion of different components. “Now, the department claims that all the components will be completed by November 2020, which was the original date mentioned in the contract”, sources said.
“If November 2020 was the original date for the completion of entire project then what was the compulsion to project different dates of 2019 before the High Court”, sources said, adding “either Tourism Department wants to hide its failure by claiming that November 2020 was the date for completion of project in all respects or it intentionally tried to mislead the High Court”.
As per the status report of the then Tourism Secretary, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR, Yoga Centre with associated infrastructure including equipment and counselling rooms and wellness spa and Ayurveda complex with separate area for traditional spa therapies at Mantalai were to be completed by August 2019. Similarly, Tourist Facilitation Centre at Mantalai was to be completed in the month of August this year.
Likewise, Sewage Treatment Plant; water purification plant for solid and organic waste management with associated infrastructure and internal approach roads and ramps were to be completed by July 2019. Different dates of 2019 were conveyed to the High Court for other components also but Tourism Department and National Projects Construction Corporation have failed to meet the same, sources further said.
“Against over 30 components of the project the work on only 9 components including poly houses and helipad has been completed till date”, sources disclosed, adding “the most astonishing aspect is that no strategy has so far been chalked out by the Tourism Department for immediate use of some infrastructure like poly houses and helipad”.
They further said, “the helipad has been constructed by spending huge money without initiating any exercise for start of heli services to picturesque destination of Patnitop”, adding “in the absence of any plan huge money spent on such infrastructure would remain unfruitful expenditure”.
“It seems that some of the components have been incorporated in the project without application of mind”, sources said, adding “either such money should have been utilized for other purposes or plans should have been prepared for immediate utilization of the same”.
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