KL Report
SRINAGAR
It has come to fore that 80 hotels and restaurants whose commercial operations were suspended by Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) in hill resort Pahalgam are functioning normally.
PDA had issued two lists mentioning the names at least 80 hotels and restaurants which were suspended by PDA after they failed to get requisite clearance from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).
Some of the hotels included Hotel Grand Mumtaz, Heaven, Pine and Peak, Mount View, Pine Spring, Volga, Netraj, Hiltop, Wood Stock and Hotel Hill Park.
However, sources told CNS that all these hotels and restaurants are doing their backdoor business as usual while guests could be seen checking in an out on daily basis.
When CNS contacted the General Manager of one of the sealed hotels disguising as travel agent, the GM assured us that three rooms would be made available for the guests. When asked, how you could manage this when your hotel has been sealed by PDA, the General Manager (name withheld) replied that the back door of the hotel is open for the guests and all the hotels in Hill Resort are following the same route.
One of the locals Abdul Samad told CNS that they had hoped with the sealing of these commercial establishments including hotels and restaurants, the pristine glory of Nallah Ladar would get restored, but the way these hotel owners have started functioning despite being sealed by PDA on the directions of High Court does not change anything on ground.
Another local said that everything is happening under the nose of PDA. “Do you think PDA is unaware of this development that all these sealed hotels are functioning normally? PDA knows everything as they get their own share from the business,” he said.
When contacted Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA), Reyaz Ahmad admitted this fact and said that they are also receiving the complaints from the people that some of these hotels are indulging in backdoor business.
“Our men and even police is monitoring the situation and we would take stern action against those hotel owners who would violate norms of law,” he said.
