Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 15: Apni Party has strongly criticised the J&K administration for its negligence toward the tourist destination of Yusmarg.
The leaders, headed by party president, Mohd Altaf Bukhari, visited the place on Wednesday, where local traders-mostly linked to the tourism sector met them and apprised them of a range of issues hampering tourism at this beautiful destination. A delegation from Char-i-Sharief also met Apni Party leaders and apprised them the pressing public issues and grievances that they are facing.
A visiting delegation of local shopkeepers, hoteliers, restaurant owners, pony walas, and others in Yusmarg also met Apni Party leaders and informed them that official apathy has turned this place into a `no-go area’ for tourists, as a result, more than 700 families dependent on tourism-related businesses are suffering.
“Following the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year, Yusmarg, like several other tourist destinations, was closed. Even after it was reopened, restrictions have remained in place. These restrictions are so stringent that the administration forces traders to shut their businesses as early as 3 PM in the afternoon. Moreover, there are no telecommunication towers in the area, and as a result, mobile phones do not work. Due to this situation, tourists are unable to make online payments, or use ATMs here,” the delegation informed Altaf Bukhari.
They urged Apni Party leaders to use their influence to ensure that this tourist destination is no longer neglected by officials, and that all necessary facilities are provided to rejuvenate tourism activities in the area.
Bukhari and other leaders gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured that they would raise these issues with the Government at the highest level.
Prominent among those accompanying Bukhari included- Ghulam Hassan Mir, Chairman of the party’s Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC), Mohd Dilawar Mir, vice president; Javaid Mustafa Mir, general secretary; Rafi Ahmad Mir, Hilal Ahmad Shah, Mohd Ashraf Mir, Muntazir Mohiudin, Yawar Dilawar Mir, Dr Harbaksh Singh and others.
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