Gulmarg: After hoteliers expressed concern that government was not extending the lease of their hotels at Gulmarg, the district administration Baramulla on Saturday said all the “genuine” concerns of the hoteliers at famous ski-resort will be addressed in shortest possible time.
However, it added that the hoteliers who have indulged in illegalities by way of encroachments will have to face the law.
According to the news agency KNO, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, G N Itoo said that all the hoteliers will be taken on board before any decision is taken. “All the issues and concerns raised by the hoteliers today in a meeting will be discussed with the government soon. I assure you that the government will listen to every single hotelier here,” he said.
Itoo added that everything will be done as per the directions given by the High Court. “The committee established to look into the issues of hoteliers here will be visiting Gulmarg again for two days on Wednesday and Thursday during which the committee members will meet all the 69 hoteliers here,” he said.
However, he said there will be no compromise with the illegal encroachers. “Anyone found having encroached land in Gulmarg will have to face the law. If there are any errors in the documents, the committee is open to rectify them — only if the authentic documents are available with the concerned hoteliers which they will also have to produce before the high court,” he said.
Soon after the meeting, hotelier and chairperson of PHD Chamber of Commerce in Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya said that they are hopeful that their leases will be extended.
“I have been assured by the Government of India, Lieutenant Governor, Chief Secretary and others that the lease of hotels will be extended,” he said.
He said that the hoteliers here too are against the illegal encroachments and those who have indulged in illegalities should face the law.
“We have got the land on lease which has ended. The lease is being extended everywhere, so we are hopeful that our issues too will be resolved. Our meeting with the district administration was aimed to convey to the authorities that there should be no harassment to the hoteliers,” Chaya said.
“We have been assured that the lease will be extended and are hopeful that the government will not take any decision which would be against the interests of the hoteliers,” Chaya said. (KNO)
