Srinagar, November 19 (Scoop News) – Expressing concern over the latest revelation on the deal between Air India owned Hotel Corporation of India (HCI) and the New Delhi-based DB realty, the Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday has called for an immediate takeover of the Hotel by the state government and a probe into the deal.
In a statement , the spokesman of the party said the deal has harmed the vital interests of the state and is taking toll on tourism sector from the day one. Chief spokesman of the party, Naeem Akhtar, has termed the deal as the most non-profitable and detrimental to state economy that is already reeling under severe financial crisis due to policies of the present coalition.
The details furnished by HCI, under RTI, reveal that no order has been passed that should indicate scrapping of deal between it and DB Reality over offering Centaur under management contract to the latter. If the RTI would have not been filed, the Issue would have never come to fore, the statement read.
The spokesman remarked that deal which was inked between Air India and late Sheikh Abdullah led government about thirty years back, was made on the grounds of promoting International tourism to the state and to harness its tourism potential. Since that purpose has never been fulfilled, therefore, the deal stands violated by the Hotel Corporation of India. Sale of this prime property to a third party is against the terms and conditions of original agreement and it should naturally be restored to the state. Akhtar said the shady nature of the firm to which the property has been sold with apparent consent of state government makes it a fit case for probe.
Since HCI has gone back on the conditions of the agreement, therefore, the property must be given back to the state government he said. While in April the government had claimed that it was working on a plan to take over the hotel and even promote water sports around the Centaur, but this RTI suggests otherwise. This latest revelation has only highlighted the callous attitude of the government in handling such important matters.