Tourism dept bails out 60 entrepreneurs facing axe for delayed projects

Highly placed sources said barring three cases of the 60 cases of alleged Essential Certificate violations,the government has opted not to review them and advised the Deputy Commissioners to facilitate setting-up of proposed projects,if the entrepreneurs were willing to stick to the ECs norms. The state’s Revenue department has also been informed about the decision taken on Thursday.

The move,said some investors facing cancellation of their projects,has come as a big relief and will help in pushing forward the inordinately delayed projects.

Tourism Director Arun Sharma said,“The ECs are just an administrative tool that enables the investors to go ahead with their projects,but only after obtaining other mandatory approvals from the government agencies. We have conveyed to the Deputy Commissioners concerned that entrepreneurs are not required to apply for fresh ECs to go ahead,if the land has not been diverted for other purposes.”

In all,there were 67 cases,two from Kangra and two from Kullu,which were under the purview of the Tourism department. “We noticed the delays in these cases was because of the government agencies only. So,if their ECs are cancelled,this will be a blow for the tourism sector,” said an official.

In cases where promoters diverted their land for some other purposes,however,will not get any relief and instead,will be dealt under the law. The government move has raised eyebrows of the Opposition,Congress,who suspect it wants to “favour” the chosen businessmen.

“The BJP government has decided to perpetuate and sell-out Himachal’s prime lands to outsiders and those close to the Sangh Parivar,” said PCC president Kaul Singh Thakur.