Last Updated on December 11, 2021 at 10:51 am
In a step towards the development of Jammu region’s tourism sector, Rs 30 crore had been kept at its disposal for up-gradation at tourist spots. But, to an utter shock the Directorate of Tourism has made expenditure of only Rs 4 crore till now.
There stands a big question mark on the Directorate particularly the Engineering Wing for not providing tenders for optimum utilization of funds.
Up gradation of infrastructure at the tourists places would attract major tourist footfall thus during the current financial year, the budget of the Directorate of Tourism Jammu was kept at Rs 30 crore. But till date only Rs. 4 crore has been utilized out of the total budget raising many eyebrows for the remaining funds.
The lackadaisical attitude of the concerned officials raised an alarm for the Administrative Secretary of the Department and expressed distress over the lack of work. Administrative Secretary strictly ordered for recommending the names of the officials particularly in the Engineering Wing of the Directorate to the government for being declared as non-performing.
After the action against the concerned officials tenders were floated by the Directorate in the months of November and December.
But even after floating of tenders the threat of lapse of huge funds is looming large as within three months the financial year will close and procedural formalities have yet not been completed to pave the way for start of the tendered works.
As per Daily Excelsior, the non performance of theEngineering Wing of the Directorate can be seen clearly as works like annual maintenance of Tourist Reception Centres at Bhaderwah, Suchetgarh, Katra, Jammu Railway Station; repair and renovation of huts at Patnitop, Chinta in Doda and at Sanasar and repair and renovation of Assistant Director offices were tendered last month The other works which were tendered in the recent past are development of water body at Jandi Kathua by way of construction of walkway, sitting benches and other allied facilities; construction of boundary wall by way of chain link fencing at Ujj Park; construction of dormitory at Chounta Mata Ramnagar; development of Gowda Gali at Gool Ramban; development of wayside amenities by way of construction of cafeteria with toilet facilities en-route NH44 Udhampur (Mand) and along Katra Shiv-Khori Road.
