Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has claimed that around 90% of the nearly 5,000 hotels constructed in Kashmir over the past six years are illegal, raising concerns over unregulated construction and violations of building norms in the Valley.
Sinha made the remarks on Monday while flagging concerns over the rapid expansion of the hospitality sector and alleged overpricing by hotels in Kashmir. The comments were reported by The Hindu and local media.
According to the Lieutenant Governor, about 5,000 hotels have come up in Kashmir during the last six years, but nearly 90% of them allegedly do not comply with legal requirements.
The remarks also reportedly included a reference to hotels associated with prominent Kashmiri hotelier Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya.
The allegation comes amid a rapid expansion of tourism infrastructure in Kashmir following a sharp rise in tourist arrivals. The hospitality industry has expanded its accommodation capacity to meet growing demand, with hoteliers previously calling for greater scope for expansion in tourist destinations and remote areas.
Mushtaq Chaya, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club, had earlier said that hotels were expanding and renovating their facilities in response to increased tourist demand.
He had also acknowledged that construction rules in remote tourist areas such as Gulmarg and Sonamarg were strict, while stressing the need for additional accommodation capacity, The Hindu reported.
