New Land Laws Worry Gulmarg’s Hoteliers

Unnerved by the new land laws, hoteliers in the world-famous ski resort Gulmarg, now fear they will be shut down. They are hoping that the government will reconsider the decision soon.

Gulmarg is a famous tourist spot in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, known for its natural meadows. Its skiing slopes, are remains jam-packed throughout the year, but the crowds peak during winter. According to reports, around 14.5 lakh tourists visited Gulmarg in 2022. Which is the highest of all the tourist places including Doodhpathri, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, and Kokernag in Kashmir valley.

The tourist arrival to Kashmir is at an all-time high, with a total of 22,85,747 visiting the valley. This includes 22,66,368 domestic and 19379 foreign tourists, 2022 onwards.

Meanwhile, in December 2022, the Lieutenant Governor-led J&K administration unveiled the new land laws. As per the new land laws, the owner's right to hold on to properties on lease has come to an end.

The new J&K land Grant Rules 2022, when notified, will replace the 1960 land grant rules. According to the notification the owners have been directed to hand over the leased land, failing which they will be evicted. It stated that an online auction will be held for new leases.

Hoteliers at the famous ski resorts of Gulmarg are unnerved and in a state of worry. A total of 59 resorts are currently functional, of which leases to 58 have already come to an end. The lease to the remaining resort is also ending next year.

The aggrieved hoteliers stated that they are concerned that thousands, directly and indirectly, involved with the sector at Gulmarg will lose their livelihoods given that the leases expired years ago were not extended by the government.

Naseem Ahmad a hotelier in Gulmarg confirmed that the leases of all barring one resort has come to an end. “Leases were given in the 1960s for 40, and 90 years, they ended two to four years ago. A few had received leases before the 1960s and have completed their lease period,” he said.

According to Ahmad, if the right to hold on to the property ends, everything invested over the last six decades will also come to an end for the hoteliers. “We have been demanding that the government must either give property rights or extend leases. A relook at the decision will relieve everyone of their worries and burdens,” he said.

About handing over the property, he said that though the government clearly stated this is to be done immediately now no notice of eviction has been sent to anyone so far.

Mushtaq Ahmad, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club while expressing concerns said that there will be suffering and problems if the government does not pay heed to their request. “If the government proceeds with the decision, then the destination has to be closed. All the structures in Gulmarg are on leases which have expired already. Not less than 1 lakh people are directly and indirectly involved in earning their living from this tourist destination alone. “We will be pushed into the dark,” he said.

He said that the government must come soft toward the hoteliers and reconsider their decision. “Each hotel has at least 100 staff members, so close to 6,000 are employed in 59 resorts. Others like sledwalas, ponywalas are also connected as well the travel agents based in Kashmir and parts of India,” he added.

According to Mushtaq this is not a wise decision, that too at a time when the government talks about prosperity, development, and promotion of the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir. He added that the leases were given in 1978 after an auction was conducted, while the initial process had started in the 1960s.

Hamid Ahad, a worker at a hotel said that the staff will lose their jobs, especially the older ones who have been working here for decades. “The new investors will consider all of us incapable. If the decision is not revoked it will Leave thousands of families to suffer and starve,” he said.

Aquib Ahmad, president of the Hoteliers Club Gulmarg chapter echoed concerns about the new land laws and stated that the leases are not only about Hotels in Gulmarg but also those at Pahalgam, Lal Chowk, Regal Chowk, Lambert Lane, and Ghanta Ghar in Srinagar.

It includes places like KC Road, Raghunath Bazar, and Residency Road in Jammu as well. “It is not a small thing affecting only a few people. Ever since the auction in 1978, everyone has been paying," he said.

“For around 30 to 35 years the situation wasn’t conducive for tourism activities. Now when tourism activities are picking up pace in the last couple of years, the government unveiled new land grant laws that are unfair,” he said.

“No stakeholder has been consulted to frame these new land laws. Government must adopt land laws that are prevalent in other states and UTs of India,” he added.

At least 90% of the hotel owners, he said, were in financial distress as they had borrowed money from banks.

On being asked about worry among the hoteliers given the visit of the Reliance group to Gulmarg, the Hoteliers Club president said that they aren't worried at all. He believed that if the new investors come it will help in terms of infrastructure and further enhance the tourist footfall.

“We aren't against the new investors, but it should not come at the cost of eviction of those existing ones who have given their everything to Gulmarg to grow as the sole most attractive tourist destination in kashmir,” he said. Citing an example, he said that it was only after the Khyber group opened their branch, Gulmarg as a tourist destination was reviewed, following which winter tourism also began.

Another hotelier said “almost all the hotels have 100% occupancy. We are jam-packed and people in huge numbers are arriving to enjoy the season's snowfall, sports, and adventure-filled activities that this place offers during winter.”

The hoteliers said that the government must not uproot and throw them out. They said that it is not that easy for hoteliers who have invested everything. “We are hopeful that the government will revisit its decision and come up with something favourable for all,” they said.