Srinagar: At the pretext of promoting tourism in the Valley, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department has reportedly spent lakhs of rupees on a five minute film titled “Kashmir warmest place on earth.”
Sources told that a 5-minute film aimed at attracting tourists to Kashmir could have been made by spending a small amount but the Tourism department has spent huge amount ostensibly to appease a few people, associated with the film, having strong political connections.
The film is ready and now the cash starved JK government is mulling to air it on various news channels. “News channels are asking for huge amount as the advertisement charges. The proposal is almost ready,” sources said.
They said, “Despite officials of the Tourism department spending lakhs of rupees on foreign tours and road shows they failed to attract tourists to Kashmir. The year 2017 witnessed a huge dip in tourist inflow to the Valley. The film is a new gimmick.”
“Airing this 5-minute film on news channels would cost the JK government a whopping amount. The bills of these news channels can run in crores. This is being done to keep news channels in good humour so that they stop highlighting the failures of the present dispensation in J&K,” sources added.
“A few officials of the Tourism department have been showing big dreams to the people at the helm but all their ideas have back fired. They are hand in glove with a few politicians and are indulging in the experiments to just fill their coffers. They are minting money on the name of promoting tourism in the Valley,” sources alleged.
An insider claimed that if an audit is ordered into the huge amount spent on the name of promoting and attracting tourists to the Valley many skeletons would tumble. “A few Mumbai based agencies which are involved in producing and advertising the film have earned huge revenue,” he added.
Sources said that officials of the Tourism department have suggested that Jammu and Kashmir Information department should be roped in to pay the bills of the news channels, which would air this film.
It may be recalled that state run Information department has curtailed the flow of government advertisements to many dailies being published from Jammu and Srinagar respectively. Even the payments of the vernacular dailies are pending with the Information department. It owes lakhs of rupees to local media in J&K. “A few Tourism officials are insisting that Information department should step in to handle the financial liabilities which this film is about to leave behind after news channels air it,” said a source. “The film is ready but final decision to air it on news channels has not be taken yet,” the source added.
