Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
pahalgam, Nov 13: The Pahalgam Development Authority's (PDA) decision to lease out the Golf Course huts for five years has deprived the corrupt bureaucrats of free and luxurious accommodation.
Official sources said that six double-bedded luxurious huts have been leased out at Rs 2.15 crore annually. The huts, constructed few years ago, were not fetching any income to the PDA.
The decision of leasing out the huts was taken during Governor's rule to make them viable for generating income to the nodal agency, sources said.
They said that the decision of leasing out the huts has disappointed many bureaucrats who used to enjoy nights at Pahalgam at the cost of state exchequer. "Usually what happens is that many bureaucrats prefer to stay at government guest houses for free of cost," said a PDP official pleading anonymity.
"It is better to lease out the property for generating income instead of keeping them open for the bureaucrats and their families," said a local resident Manzoor Ahmad.
Few tourism players accuse of PDA of leasing out the huts secretly.
But PDA's Chief Executive Officer, Reyaz Ahmad Wani told Early Times that the huts were leased out in open bid. "It was open bid. We invited bidders through e-tendering on 27-08-2015 but unfortunately only two parties turned up and participated in the bidding," he said. He said the bidding process was done under the chairmanship of Secretary Tourism Farooq Shah.
The CEO said that huts have been leased out at Rs 2.15 crore annually to Al-Ahad Group of Hotels and there will be 15% hike annually, generating around Rs 14 crore during next five years. |
