Mussoorie not ready to welcome tourists

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, February 11

Hoteliers and traders have begun the exercise for the forthcoming tourist season in Mussoorie but there are no signs of government departments doing the needful for the well being of tourists.

Boarding schools here would open from March 1 but the traffic police are yet to formulate a route plan to avoid traffic congestion during the peak admission season in Mussoorie.

The Jal Sansthan and the Electricity Department are yet to make a plan to see the adequate supply of electricity during the tourist season begin-ning March.

The Municipal Council of Mussoorie is yet to take stock of hygiene and cleanliness situation in the town. The door-to-door garbage collection has not taken off fully in the town. Filth can be seen dumped on the roadsides.

The maintenance of public toilets in the town is left much desired despite the tourist season nearing in the town, said one resident.

There is no one to see the outcome of the senior-level meetings and the directions given by the District Magistrate and other officers in upgrading the facilities for tourists in the town. Subordinate officials after taking directions from senior officers do nothing but sleep on the recommendations with impunity.

Some officials are smart enough to cite budget constraints and tourist are left without facilities that they expect after coughing out a large amount of money in the form of taxes and room rents at respective hotels.

MC president Manmohan Singh Mall said council officials had been directed to inspect the areas that require attention and complete all pending works before the start of the tourist season. Tourism Department officials also said that they were ready to provide best possible facilities to the tourists at various spots around the town.