SRINAGAR: The sale of Royal Golf Spring is another example of how the government is “developing” this region post August 5 decision, People’s Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti said Sunday
In a statement, Mehbooba said, Everything has been put on sale”. This is yet another step to sell our assets to non local businesses.
“Kashmir is the oldest golfing destination not just in South Asia but perhaps East of Suez. Gulmarg, Kashmir Golf clubs are the second oldest after Calcutta. Our golf clubs are not mere real estate as GOI is treating the state but an essential part of our identity and heritage”, the statement read.
If the present administration finds the maintenance difficult because of its inherent inefficiency and agenda, it should focus on improving the organisation running golf courses and hire experts from anywhere, Mehbooba said in the statement.
The statement reads, “Whether Jammu or in Kashmir selling golf courses is unacceptable as we’ve witnessed that this outsourcing generally ends up in ownerships and irreversible. Tourism being our key sector , the order says, many properties of jktdc and tourism department are being given out . This when in Gulmarg they are not renewing the leases to the local hoteliers.This looks like taking every important avenue from our hands”.
On the one hand poor people are being hounded out of what has been theirs for generations and on the other premier assets are up for sale, it reads.
The August 5 decision led to rampant exploitation of land resources, jobs, and rivers in the region, with outsiders being given preference over locals. This has resulted in a rise in unemployment, drug abuse, mafia activities, environmental degradation and above all dispossession and disempowerment of locals, the statement added.
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