KL Report
SRINAGAR
While claiming that the state government is serious towards getting various hotels in valley vacated by the security forces, tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir Thursday said the government has so for been successful in vacating hotels and gust houses from their occupation and rest of the hotels will be vacated in coming time. Meanwhile Inspector General (CRPF) V.S.Yadu ruled out any immediate possibility for troops to withdraw from their possessed places.
Mir said, “despite lack of sufficient infrastructure for tourism in the valley, the department of tourism has been able to ensure a successful year for tourism in the valley.
The Minister expressed optimism regarding inflow of tourists during summer season and said “government is very serious about vacating hotels and guest houses occupied by security forces to boost tourism industry in the state”.
“Guest houses and hotels which were occupied by the security forces have already been vacated to a large extent and now further steps are being taken in this process”, said tourism minister while talking to news agency KNS.
Regarding the policy for enhancing tourism infrastructure in the valley, Mir said that a master plan has been prepared which will be implemented very soon.
He admitted and said, “Due to the last two decades of violence, the department was unable to take appropriate steps for development of tourism infrastructure ‘but now when the peace has returned all the possible measures will be taken towards its betterment”.
Meanwhile Ruling out any immediate possibility Inspector General (CRPF) V.S.Yadu talking to news agency KNS said,
“Nobody has officially approached us regarding this matter till now. But before coming to us it is a responsibility of the state government to provide us with a suitable alternative.
While accepting maximum hotels and gust houses are under the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Yadu said, “over 26 battalion of CRPF are putting up in 28 different hotels and gust houses of Srinagar and in absence of any proper accommodation authorities should understand what option we are left with other than either to live in the tents or leave the valley”.
