‘Dying’ Doodhpathri pricks JK Govt’s tourism promotion balloon

Belying the J&K Government’s claims of promoting lesser known tourism destinations in Kashmir to attract tourists, the picturesque Doodhpathri in this Central Kashmir’s Budgam district is devoid of basic amenities, severely affecting its tourism prospects.

Situated 42 kms from Srinagar, the bowl-shaped Doodhpathri is nestled between forests and dotted with gushing streams and meadows. In view of its immense tourism potential, the Government in 2005 formed Doodhpathri Development Authority to put in place basic infrastructure for tourists. However, despite passing of over a decade, Doodhpathri is yet to make it to the tourism map of Kashmir. It sans proper water and power facilities and is without communication network.Though a Tourist Reception Centre and some huts were constructed in the past, the present dispensation is sitting over development of Doodhpathri.

Doodhpathri Development Authority was without a CEO for over one year and the charge was held by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Budgam. A full-fledged CEO was posted on September 8 this year.

Sources said in absence of adequate staff and paucity of funds, the Doodhpathri Development Authority is not able to undertake vital developmental projects.

Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, who is holding the Tourism portfolio, has been talking of promoting tourism including lesser-known tourist spots, saying “increase in tourist traffic will resuscitate JK economy”. Earlier this year, the CM announced that government will promote Yusmarg, Doodhpathri and Tosa Maidan as “single circuit” to boost tourism in central Kashmir. He also directed for expediting various projects, including laying of golf courses, ropeways in minimum tree line areas and amusement parks in these destinations.

On August 18 this year, a team of National Travel Trade Bodies (NTTB) comprising 10 teams including Gujarat, Kolkata and New Delhi conducted FAM tour Doodhpathri and suggested various measures to be taken by the State government for making this tourist destination among best in the State.

However, sources said, due to lack of funds, the Doodhpathri Development Authority is yet to start work on most of the developmental projects. The DDA has requisitioned Rs 1.50 crore from the Government for infrastructure development at Doodhpathri, they said.

“Ironically, only Rs 56 lakh were released that too at the fag-end of working season. How can we undertake construction activities during winter as the destination receives heavy snowfall? It will take around a year to complete these works and till then the funds would lapse,” said an officer, wishing anonymity.

Sources said the problem is compounded as other departments “do not cooperate” in putting in place basic facilities in Doodhpathri.A water supply scheme for Doodhpathri is lying defunct on the banks of Shalliganga stream. “For the past over two years, the Doodhpathri Development Authority has several times asked the PHE department to complete the scheme for convenience of visitors, but there is no headway,” they said.

Sources said work on a road, which can provide all-season connectivity to Doodhpathri, is going on at slow pace. “The Mujpathri-Suchalpathri road can reduce the distance to Doodhpathri by 7 kms and also provide connectivity to the place during winters. The main route has steep slopes and gets closed due to snowfall. However, the Roads and Buildings department is sitting over the issue,” sources said.“The Forest department is hindering even small developmental works which are away from tree line. It is not even allowing construction of wooden bridge over Shaliganga to enable trekking in upper reaches of Doodhpathri,” they said.

In absence of communication facilities in the resort, visitors face a tough time to make or receive calls. “Tourists cannot stay at a place which does not at least have communication or basic facilities. The resort is without power and drinking water facilities. Government should make its intentions clear whether it wants to develop Doodhpathri or not,” said a tourism stakeholder.MLA of Khansahib constituency in Budgam, Hakim Muhammad Yasin accused the successive regimes of ignoring development of Doodhpathri. “It is my dream to bring Doodhpathri on the global tourism map, but successive regimes have hampered its development for political reasons,” he told .Yasin said Doodhpathri has immense tourism potential which needs to be exploited. “Like previous regime, this Government is not interested in developing Doodhpathi to protect business interests of a group of influential hoteliers in Gulmarg and Pahalgam. This is height of political vengeance that Government is disallowing development of Doodhpathri as a tourist destination,” he said.

Executive Engineer, Doodhpathri Development Authority, GM Wani, said “we have started various development projects in the resort, however several works are yet to be completed due to paucity of funds or clearance from other departments.”

“Undoubtedly, Doodhpathri has vast potential to be developed as a tourist resort. We have taken up the issues hampering development of Doodhpathri with the Government and are hopeful these will be resolve soon,” said Chief Executive Officer, Doodhpathri Development Authority, Zahoor Ahmad Mir.