Despite a proper Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) at Tangnad, Doodhpathri Development Authority (DDA) is still operating from a rented building that too far away from the tourist resort. The irony is that despite spending millions on the construction of TRC for DDA at Tangnad, the officials and employees are reluctant to function from that Centre and instead operate from a rented private building located in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. When Gulmarg Development Authority can function from the Gulmarg itself and so does other Authorities of various tourist resorts why can’t DDA function from the Doodhpathri resort and why it is draining the money of the state exchequer.Pertinently, another authority, Yusmarg Development Authority also had its rented office at Chanpora area of Srinagar city.Doodhpathri Development Authority along with several tourism developmental authorities for Kokernag, Aharbal, Sonamarg and Yusmarg were created by late Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in 2003-2004.
To make the DDA more viable and attract the attention of the tourists, government spent crores of rupees on the construction of a Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) for it, however, surprisingly, the employees and officials are against the shifting of the office to Tangnad.“The officials and employees don’t want office to get shifted to Tangnad as they are mostly from Srinagar and Budgam. Besides Tourism Department is least bothered about the development of this picturesque tourist resort,” said a local to news agency CNS.Chief Executive Officer, DDA couldn’t be contacted, however, a top official Mr Farooq Ahmed said that DDA executive wing sometimes visit Tangnad TRC. He said.The Tangnad office will be operational once water and electric supply connections will be restored. “From past three years, we have been asking officials to restore water and electrical supply to the TRC building but till date nothing has been done in this regard,” he said. Another official wishing anonymity said that the Publicity Division Department of Tourism Department has been doing nothing to promote Doodhpathri as effective tourist destination spot. “Outsiders don’t visit the spot while the flow of local tourists is minimal,” he said. (CNS)