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| Pahalgam Golf Course turns ‘white elephant’ | | |  Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Pahalgam, Aug 31: The Jammu and Kashmir Government through Tourism Department and Pahalgam Development Authority have spent crores on Pahalgam Golf Course, Early Times learnt on Monday.
However, the Tourism Department and Pahalgam Development Authority have miserably failed to promote 18-hole Pahalgam Golf Course globally which eventually could have attracted high-end tourism in Kashmir particularly in Pahalgam.
Since 2010, the officials said, Lidder Valley Pahalgam Golf Course is exclusively being used by politicians, bureaucrats and influential businessmen.
“The Pahalgam Golf Course is a white elephant. It doesn’t fetch any income to the government nor is attracting tourists even during peaceful days,” locals, who were promised that the Golf Course will increase the footfall of tourists at Pahalgam, told Early Times.
The Golf Course, they said, has been opened for elite class and no effort was being taken by the Government for promoting it on a global level.
“The PDA must draft rules for Lidder Valley Pahalgam Golf Course and kick start premium membership,” an officer said.
According to officials, initially Pahalgam Golf Course was a 9-hole Golf Course and in 2004 the Government allocated Rs 47 Cr for its expansion and up-gradation.
“The Pahalgam Golf Course is spread over 1186 Kanals of land. Out of 1186 kanals, the government has acquired 293 Kanals of land from private parties and released around 13 Cr rupees on account of compensation,” they said.
PDA has constructed six huts, a club and procured machinery worth Crores of rupees for marinating the Golf Course.
“After its up-gradation and expansion, PDA on an average annually spends 1.5 Cr over its maintenance,” they said.
The officials said that PDA has deployed sixty employees mostly casuals at Pahalgam Golf Course.
Chief Executive Officer Pahalgam Development Authority, Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani admitted that PDA is trying to minimize spending but can’t stop as they have to maintain the Golf Course.
“Golf Courses don’t directly generate huge revenue for the state but will definitely attract high-end tourism if promoted globally,” he said, adding various initiatives for promoting the Golf Course were under consideration. |
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