NC Govt failed to chalk out a tourism policy: Altaf Bukhari

‘If voted to power, PDP will introduce single window clearance for hoteliers’
Srinagar, Aug 23: Peoples Democratic Party senior leader and party candidate for Amirakadal constituency Syed Altaf Bukhari said the ruling National Conference has abysmally failed to chalk out a tourism policy consequently resulting into increase in unemployment and a huge loss of foreign exchange to the State. Bukhari was addressing a meeting of hoteliers at Rajbagh wherein he pledged that if voted to power PDP will introduce a single window clearance system to address the problems being faced by the hoteliers in the State. He said hotels considered to be an extremely important component of the tourism industry were unfortunately neglected by the present dispensation over last five and half years. The hospitality sector, he said not only absorbs the tourist influx in the state but also is a source of employment generations for the unemployed youth. “It is highly regrettable that this vital sector that contributes to the State’s economy was given a step motherly treatment. The NC led government hardly bothered to respond to the requirements of hoteliers who were pushed from pillar to post to sort out their grievances,” he added. Complimenting hoteliers for their entrepreneurship initiatives including generation of employment avenues for the unemployed youth in the state, Bukhari said the infrastructural requirements of the hoteliers in the state would be studied on priority basis by the PDP if elected to power.
He said the tourism related infrastructure in Srinagar especially in Amirakadal constituency portrays a dismal scenario as the existing hospitality services are insufficient to cater to tourism needs. The PDP senior leader, however, remarked that PDP believes the procedural wrangling involved in the interim measures including registration of enhanced accommodation in hotels should be minimized to a possible extent so that the tourist inflow is not hampered. Bukhari accused the National Conference led government for non implementation of centrally sponsored schemes loaded with liberal funding for the purpose. He said the political ineptitude and the administrative inertia in the present dispensation marred the mega projects designed to address sewerage and drainage problems faced by the hoteliers.The PDP candidate for Amirakadal constituency said if voted to power, the problems being faced by the hoteliers in twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu will be studied and accordingly measures will be taken to address them in a time bound manner. On this occasion, the members of the hoteliers association expressed deep disappointment over the malfunctioning and a lackadaisical approach adopted by present dispensation towards hoteliers’ welfare. The hoteliers blamed the ruling National Conference for going on at a snail’s pace in installation of common Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) in their area. Bukhari assured the hoteliers that common land use, electricity tariff as per usage, treatment of sewerage, waste disposal and effective drainage on scientific lines would be among top priorities of the PDP if elected to power.