Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief spokesperson Rafi Ahmad Mir on Wednesday warned the state government of “dire consequences” if it failed to withdraw its order on shifting winter sports facilities of Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports (JIM&WS) from Pahalgam.
In a statement, the former MLA Pahalgam termed the move as ‘politically motivated’ which, he said, will snatch the livelihood of locals.
He appealed to the governor Satya Pal Malik to withdraw the order in the interest of the locals.
Mir said that for promotion of Pahalgam as a winter destination this facility was established at Pahalgam in 1983, and cannot be shifted overnight on ‘likes and dislikes of the administration.’
Mir said that the JIM&WS institute ensures winter tourism and overall capacity building for which the former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti along with the Union Defence Minister ensured all support to the institute so that locals will get benefits of winter sports activities.
“We locals have always extended hand of cooperation to government more importantly during annual Amarnath Yatra but in turn government is abusing the spirit of people by this ill-conceived decision of shifting JIM&WS,” Mir said, adding if the order was not withdrawn immediately, they will hit the streets.
