Tourist homes reduced to a gravy train

IMPHAL, Jun 2: The State Tourism Department has been incurring a loss of Rs 48,46,700 as tourist homes have been occupied by security forces for CI Ops and any effort to draw the attention of the Home Ministry and the authorities of Army and Assam Rifles to pay up the due amount of rental charges for occupying the tourist homes has come to naught.According to sources from the State Tourism Department, a sum of Rs 9,38,900 is due for payment for occupying four double bed rooms, one kitchen and dining hall of the Moirang Tourist Home by the security forces since July 1995.However the amount has not been paid till today.Similarly, a due amount of Rs 9,77,800 incurred for occupying four double bed rooms of Phubala Tourist Home since November 1995 and Rs 10,43,600 for occupying Khongjom Tourist Home since June 1994 have not been paid, sources said, adding that the unpaid amount for occupying the tourist homes at Moreh, Churachandpur and Sendra have also added upto Rs 10,68,600, Rs 6,62,400 and Rs 1,55,400 respectively.Over and above losing its income due to occupation of these tourist homes by the security forces, the Department has been discouraged from setting up new tourist homes, sources said.While pointing out that the tourists homes have been set up in the first place for the conveniences of the visiting tourists with an eye on developing tourism activities in the State, sources lamented that after the occupation of these tourist homes, the security forces have put restrictions on the entry not just of the visiting tourists but also the officials of the Department.In such a situation, the efforts being made by the Government of Manipur to tap the potential of tourism in the State would be wasted, sources observed.Security forces not paying up the rental charges have been highlighted earlier.