Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR, June 8: Gutted in a major inferno in 2014, Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) at world famous Pahalgam resort in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district has not been re-constructed during last 3 years as Tourism Department awaits allotment of land from Revenue Department.
The TRC in Pahalgam was gutted after a major fire broke out in the month of June in year 2014. Not only the TRC was gutted but also some hotels and nearly two dozen shops were also reduced to ashes. After the fire, the Government did not re-construct the TRC and instead shifted it temporarily to a hut located at Nunwan in the area.
Officials said after taking over the reins of State, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed opposed the re-construction of the TRC at its original place. “He was of the view that the place is not for a TRC as it blocks the view of the scenic mountains. That is why we could not start the process of the reconstruction,” said a top official of the Tourism Department.
He said that to keep the TRC functional, they shifted to Nunwan temporarily. “As of now, our people are working from a hut at Nunwan. Despite of the fact that the TRC was gutted but it did not affect our working. We are providing all the information to tourists from Nunwan,” the senior official said. Asked whether any proposal is in place for the re-construction of the TRC, the official said that they are waiting for land allotment.
“We have written to Revenue Department six months ago and sought land at suitable place for the TRC reconstruction. So far, the land has not been allotted and we are hopeful that within a month, the Revenue Department will allot us land. Once we will receive the land, we will start our work,” the Tourism Department official added. Only last month, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti while chairing a meeting of Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) directed pacing up of the process of setting up new TRC.
Locals of Pahalgam – which also serves base camp for annual Amarnath Yatra – expressed disappointment over delay in re-construction of the TRC. “Pahalgam is a world-class tourist resort and thousands of people visit this place to enjoy nature’s beauty. However it is sad that we don’t have a TRC which is must for a tourist place. It is irony that Government is unable even to find suitable land for the TRC re-construction,” said Sajad Ahmad. The locals appealed Government to speed up the process for the re-construction of the TRC on modern lines.
The PDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani told Excelsior that after sorting the land issue, the Tourism Department will start the re-construction of the new TRC. “It is Tourism Department which has to construct the TRC,” he said, adding: “but we, the PDA, are going to construct a Tourist Facilitation Centre (TFC) at Aishmuqam for the convenience of tourists,” he said.
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