Bizarre: Out of 70 hotels, in Movera Pahalgam, only 4 have registration , Reveals RTI

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag 21 April: In a brazen violation of government orders, almost 90%  hotels are running without registration here at Movera area of Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag District.

Among 70 hotels  only four hotels have registration with tourism department Kashmir reveals an RTI.

In an RTI filed by an applicant Bearing NO, RTI/23/63/TOP Dated 05/-2/2022 reveals that out of at least 70 hotels in Movera Pahalgam only four hotels have registration with the tourism department; however ,others are running without any registration .

These unregistered hotels have been running in Mavoora Pahalgam from the last 15 years however,  tourism department officials and PDA have failed to take any action against the unregistered hotels in the area.

According to the  RTI the tourism department has also failed to produce the NOC’S of  concerned departments  except for few hotels in Pahalgam. Others have not the NOC’S of departments and are running without NOC from the concerned departments in Pahalgam.

Talking to Arising state a Tourism official name with held said that they couldn’t initiate action against the unregistered hotels at Movera Pahalgam, which were allegedly fleecing the visitors.

According to sources the unregistered hotels and guest houses raised in violation of the norms at Movera Pahalgam, were doing brisk business under the nose of the tourism department.

Added that for registration they need building permission, NoC from PDA and other departments particularly , flood and irrigation department which they can’t obtain as all of these structure are raised on river banks and have no registration with tourism department either” .

These hotels are running from the last 14 years in Movera Pahalgam and are still running without registration from the area Sources said.

Meanwhile, talking to Arising state Assistant Director Tourism Pahalgam Bilal Ahmad Said that there is a proper procedure for the registration and for the registration the hoteliers require building permission, NoC from government departments particularly from flood and irrigation department . ‘We are giving registration only to those who provide NOCs’, he said.

Added that in Movera Pahalgam the unregistered hotels have a PIL in high court, and we have already served them notice last month to produce their NOC’S for registration, he said.