Ganderbal, Apr 15: A restaurant-cum-cafeteria building constructed by the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district a decade ago, at a cost of lakhs, has been damaged due to heavy snowfall this year and is yet to be repaired.
The SDA built the building at Shutkadi near Toll Post on the Srinagar-Leh highway to provide food facilities for tourists and people passing through the road. However, sources say that no steps have been taken to repair the building or even offer it for contract.
Visitors to Sonamarg, the most visited and preferred place in Kashmir, have criticized the authorities for turning a blind eye to the issue. They demand that the authorities repair the damaged building and offer it for contract to provide better food facilities.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SDA, Ilyas Ahmad (JKAS), said that they have already written to higher officials and that the damaged building will be repaired soon. When asked why the building was not given for contract before it was damaged, he explained that he has recently taken up the charge as CEO and is not aware of the situation. However, he assured that the cafeteria was built for the convenience of tourists and will be repaired soon.
