New Delhi: MP Anantnag and JKNC leader Hasnain Masoodi has demanded establishment of International standard Golf Academy in Srinagar and a world class sports stadium in Anantnag.
He was speaking in Lok Sabha during a short discussion under Rule 193 on the need to promote sports and the steps required to be taken by the government.
Masoodi stated that the sports promote brotherhood, harmony and fraternity and are required to be strengthened to meet the challenges of disharmony and disunity we face across the Country. He said that the sports for the last three millennia since the Olympics were first organised has proven to be an important device to fight prejudices at societal level.
Masoodi called for transparency in election and affairs of sports bodies at state and national level to address the grievances of favouritism and misuse of authority. He also called for strengthening of infrastructure for sports and tourism.
He stated that though Kashmir was second best skiing destination in the world and thousands of skiers flock to Gulmarg every winter yet not much was done to add to available the facilities and tourist accommodation at Gulmarg; that the hoteliers running hotels for decades together were not allowed to improve the facilities or repair the rooms or add rooms to the existing hotels as renewal of leases were inexplicably delayed.
Masoodi demanded that the existing leases in favour of about 70 hoteliers be renewed and improvement in facilities and supplementing accommodation wherever feasible, facilitated. He also demanded rationalisation of airfares as unreasonable and exorbitant airfares deter the tourists from visiting Jammu and Kashmir.
Masoodi stated that Golf is the second important in the category of tourism linked sports that calls for attention and needs all promotion. He reminded the Youth Services and Sports Minister that Royal Springs Golf Course is the best in the Country and one of the first 10 in Asia and can be promoted as an International Golf destination. He demanded setting up of an International Golf Academy at Srinagar.
Masoodi called for adequate infrastructure for river rafting and adventure tourism, the other sports showing huge potential. The moderate climate as against harsh summer in most parts of the Country, makes Kashmir suitable for international sports events and the only impediment in this regard is lack of infrastructure. Masoodi asked the government to establish an international standard sports stadium with all modern facilities at Anantnag.
