‘Half of Gulmarg, Pahalgam remain closed’
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Dec 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today termed the continued closure of tourist destinations a “failure,” asserting that “claims of normalcy” in J&K cannot be made while key resorts remain shut.
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Speaking to reporters at Gulmarg after inaugurating several development projects, Omar said it was contradictory to project normalcy in J&K while restricting access to major tourist hubs.
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“On one hand, you are telling the world that J&K has returned to normalcy, while on the other, half of Gulmarg and Pahalgam remain closed. Unless these destinations are reopened, the claim of normalcy cannot be made,” he said, calling the situation a failure.
The Chief Minister said the decision to close tourist destinations does not lie with the elected Government, adding that he would have ordered their reopening had it been within his authority.
“We can only create infrastructure. Closing tourist destinations is not in our hands, and unfortunately, we are not consulted. Had I been there, I would have reopened these destinations,” he said.
The CM recalled that tourism resumed in 1996 under “far worse” conditions without any destinations being closed. “The decision must be reviewed and these tourist destinations must be reopened,” he added.
Omar said that while the Union Tourism Ministry has been supportive, the continued closure of major resorts needs immediate reconsideration.
“Someone has to make a decision. How long are you going to keep these destinations closed?” he asked.
The Chief Minister said the Government is continuing efforts to strengthen tourism infrastructure despite unfavourable conditions.
“Gulmarg and Pahalgam compete with global destinations. Constant improvement of infrastructure is a necessity, especially at a time when domestic tourists visit the world, he said, adding that similar projects would be taken up at other tourist locations to encourage visitors to return to Kashmir.
He also stressed the need for a coordinated response to changing weather patterns, saying both the Government and the public have roles to play.
Touching upon power supply issues in Kashmir, the Chief Minister said maintenance problems arise due to overloading of the system. He explained that consumers often exceed the sanctioned load, leading to transformer damage.
“If people are honest about their load, transformers can be installed accordingly and damage can be avoided,” he said, noting that such issues are rare in metered areas.
He said regular power cuts have become unavoidable as the department, is unable to meet demand due to revenue shortfalls.
“We are supplying electricity without recovering adequate revenue, and therefore, the system is running at a loss,” he added.
Earlier, while speaking at an event organized by the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India at the Convention Centre, Abdullah said that the Government is taking steps to reinvigorate adventure tourism in Kashmir, with a renewed focus on bringing back Gulmarg’s reputation as a major skiing centre.
He said Kashmir holds a central place in India’s adventure tourism landscape, offering wide scope for activities ranging from skiing and trekking to mountaineering and rafting.
He recalled that Gulmarg pioneered skiing in the country but has gradually lost its edge.
Pointing to reduced snowfall and prolonged dry periods, Omar said modern solutions like artificial snowmaking, widely used in European resorts, need to be explored to keep the sport viable.
He said the Government has begun upgrading key facilities, including ski drag infrastructure, to improve the overall skiing experience and generate livelihoods for local residents.
Referring to a tourism revival initiative involving investments running into several hundred crores, he said the project is intended to revive the sector and reassure tour operators and related businesses.
The Chief Minister underlined the need for coordinated efforts by the administration, private players and local communities to sustain tourism across all seasons.
Earlier, Omar dedicated a series of major tourism infrastructure projects worth over Rs 17 crore to the public at Gulmarg and its adjoining areas, marking a significant milestone in strengthening Jammu and Kashmir’s position as a premier global winter tourism destination.
He inaugurated Asia’s longest ski drag lift, measuring 726 metres, at Kongdoori at a cost of Rs 3.65 crore. He also inaugurated conservation works of a water body at Kongdoori, completed at a cost of Rs 0.90 crore. At Apharwat, the Chief Minister inaugurated the rotating conference hall, constructed by JKCCC at a cost of Rs 0.86 crore, adding a unique attraction to Gulmarg’s high-altitude tourism infrastructure.
The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for fencing of the Gulmarg Golf Course, a project worth Rs 4.77 crore, aimed at protecting and enhancing one of the region’s iconic tourism assets. Through online inaugurations and foundation ceremonies, he also dedicated several important projects, including the office building of the Gulmarg Development Authority at a cost of Rs 0.82 crore, reconstruction of Hut No. 2 costing Rs 0.64 crore, construction of the Devri path along the Alambal roadside at Rs 2.62 crore, and development of a dedicated car parking facility with an estimated cost of Rs 2.78 crore.
In addition, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Integrated Skiing Training & Adventure Tourism Centre at Gulmarg and launched integrated ski training courses to strengthen professional winter sports training facilities.
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