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| Who cares! Amid crisis Babus enjoy at tourist spots | | | Saqib Junaid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 23: As the prevailing situation is taking a heavy toll on common people in Kashmir, , bureaucrats and top officials are enjoying along with family members at various tourist spots in the state.
These officials are staying at tourist locations on the state exchequer in tourist development corporation (TDC) huts. Thousands of tourist booking have been cancelled due to ongoing unrest in the Valley. But the top officials are now staying in JKTDC huts at various places. "There has been almost 100 percent cancellation of tourists. But the JKTDC huts are completely occupied by state guests," an official of JKTDC said. "Majority of bureaucrats could be seen at Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Patnitop, Leh, Kargil these days enjoying with their families. They are staying in TDC huts with free of cost," the official said.
Having been set up as a profit making Corporation of Jammu and Kashmir, the TDC is running in losses with liabilities of employees having touched to Rs 30 crores. "We are not being paid salaries but the turmoil in Kashmir has come blessing in a disguise for some officials who enjoy these days at tourist spots," the official said.
Some of the officials, he said are also taking their relatives to various places and stay in TDC huts with free of cost.
Official sources said the JKPDC has spent crores of rupees on setting up of tourism infrastructure at the tourist destinations over the years. Sources said the Corporation has spent crores of rupees on the construction of the club at Pahalgam but it has failed to realize any revenue for the Corporation.
"Actually this club has been constructed for the Babus and the politicians who visit there without paying any money to the Corporation," the official said, wishing not to be named for fear of reprisal.
Despite that authorities making tall claims that Corporation was generating revenue crores of rupees annually, the employees are not getting at par benefits with other employees of the state government. "The Corporation has huge avenues which could generate income hundreds of crores of rupees annually but the lackadaisical approach on part of its authorities has turned it a failure," an official said. "Providing accommodation with meals to these top officials and their families have put a huge burden on the TDC amid the crisis time," he said.
Similarly the employees who have retired since 2006 are yet to get the graduity amount. "We were given Rs 3 lakh as graduity amount but we demanded it at par with other employees of the government. After which we approached the High Court and it gave judgment in our favour. Despite that JKTDC authorities are not releasing the guaduity amount to us," a retired employee said. He said the Corporation has over Rs 30 crores liabilities of employees pending arrears and the retired employees' graduity.
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