SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah clarified on Thursday that there are no current proposals for auctioning properties in Gulmarg, adding that the government is in the process of formulating a policy for lease renewals.
During an interaction with media persons at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, CM Omar, said that authorities are focused on addressing the challenges posed by expired leases.
“There is no proposal at the moment for auctioning of properties in Gulmarg. There is a genuine problem with regard to leases, and we are in the process of formulating a policy for lease renewal,” Omar stated.
According to hoteliers in the region, the delay in renewing leases has adversely affected many hotels and properties in popular tourist destinations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
Responding to questions regarding the non-renewal of hotel leases, CM Omar highlighted the widespread issue of expired leases in the region. He pointed out that numerous hotels in Gulmarg and properties in Pahalgam are currently operating without valid leases.
CM Omar said the confusion was exacerbated by the striking down of the Roshni Scheme by the courts. Under the now-defunct scheme, many leaseholders had opted to convert their leased properties into freehold ownership.
“With the court’s decision to nullify the Roshni Act, these individuals now lack both freehold and leasehold rights. This is something the government is aware of,” Omar added.
Meanwhile, reacting to CM Omar’s statement, Chairman of the J&K Hoteliers Club, Mushtaq Chahya, welcomed the remarks and expressed optimism about resolving lease issues for hoteliers and other businesses in the region.
Chahya said the move would be a progressive step towards boosting investment and safeguarding local interests, noting its alignment with practices in other states like Maharashtra, Haryana, and Chandigarh.
“This is a very good thing, as it aligns with the national policy,” he said, adding that the transition to freehold ownership would provide much-needed relief to business owners, especially those in key tourism hubs like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Srinagar.
He added that their sector has long faced challenges due to expiring leases and uncertainty around renewals. “In Gulmarg alone, there are numerous properties whose leases have expired,” he said.
“Resolving these issues would not only stabilise our operations but also generate significant revenue for the government,” Chahya stated.
Gowhar Maqbool, a senior functionary at the Hoteliers’ Association, also welcomed the statement, emphasising the need for a policy that balances economic growth with the preservation of local interests. (KNO)
