Conman Kiran Patel’s arrest has sent shockwaves across the country. Many projects are being viewed with scepticism, put on hold, or even stopped. A case in point is the Tent City which is being built by a famous travel agency in Ahmedabad. The project is stalled owing to its association with Patel.
Ahmedabad’s Akshar Travel Pvt Ltd was given a contract by the Jammu and Kashmir Migration Board to build a tent city in Kashmir for 10 years. The tent city models are based on Dhordo in Kutch in Gujarat and the Statue of Unity.
The theme is based on having luxurious Kashmir tents on riverbanks. The decoration has a typical Kashmiri touch. The project had been taking shape in Pahalgam, Yusmarg, Aru, and Mammar, all located in the Kashmir Division. An agreement was signed for 110 tents. Fifteen tents in Pahalgam also became tourist attractions.
The process started on July 1 in all the four places. Papers were moved to seek consent from the Kashmir Tourism Department. However, the process was stalled, following the Kiran Patel episode.
A senior functionary associated with the travel company told the Vibes of India that scepticism is natural since Patel and the firm has a common link, which is Gujarat. The tourism department is expected to conduct a thorough investigation of the legal processes involved in the project before making a decision.
Other factors like the vagaries of the weather have contributed to the delay. Moreover, developing a tent city takes time. If the tender is not passed in July, the construction work will be stalled for many more months.
Meanwhile, the Kiran Patel effect is seen in the rules for the secretariat, which have been tightened. Earlier, the secretariat had the liberty to go anywhere with a pass. But now, the secretariat can only go to departments where there is work.
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