8 yrs on, Amritsar Culture & Tourism Devp Authority yet to get office, staff

Even eight years after the formation of the Amritsar Culture and Tourism Development Authority (ACTDA), the state government has failed to bring in more tourist sites under its control, set up its independent office and hire staff. Till date its jurisdiction is restricted to the Heritage Street and at the Golden Temple entrance plaza, even as it neither has any office, nor staff.

Insiders said there used to be only one official of the ACTDA, i.e. the General Manager. That position has been lying vacant for over three years now. Now, there is no official of the authority in the city, which is categorised as the top most tourist destination in North India.

Passed by the Cabinet in 2016, the constitution of an authority provides for preservation, maintenance, cleanliness, provision for supply of essential services like electricity, water supply, beautification and monument lighting, sanitation, proper maintenance of roads and disposal of solid waste in the vicinity and around the specified areas or sites and services for development and promotion of tourism in Amritsar.

As per the ACTDA Act, the authority would have to work within a radius of 500 m to 750 m of heritage, tourism and cultural sites like the Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir, Valmiki temple in Ram Teerath area, Gobindgarh Fort, Town Hall, panorama and Urban Haat.

It was to look after the facades of all these buildings, roads, roundabouts and street furniture (Town Hall to Golden Temple and exit), hop-on, hop-off bus and amphibious bus services.

The authority consists of Chief Minister as Chairman; Ministers of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Local Government; Chief Secretary; Principal Secretary to CM; Principal Secretary of Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs; Secretary, Public Relations, and Technical Adviser to CM as members; Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Department of Finance; Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Department of Local Government, and Director, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, as member secretaries.

At the district level there is a provision for formation of an executive committee to discharge day-to-day work of the authority. The executive committee consists of Deputy Commissioner as its chief executive officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Director, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, as members, besides Municipal Corporation Commissioner as member secretary.

The authority was to be responsible for planning, coordination and implementation of all activities, events, virtual reality shows, live performances, operation and maintenance of sanitation work in the specified areas, façade of buildings near the Golden Temple, operation and maintenance of lighting in the specified areas, overall infrastructure, upkeep and maintenance of all civic facilities, undertaking overall comprehensive development, including holding of conferences and seminars and all functions as may be necessary to promote tourism and increase tourist footfall.

To carry out the activities of the authority, the fund was to be provided by the state government out of the cess collected under the excise policy or any other source. The authority was to create posts and appoint officers and other employees as it might have considered necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions.

Sakshi Sawhney, DC, said the matter of the authority was discussed during the last visit of Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Speaker, Vidhan Sabha, in the city. She assured that she would positively take up the matter with the authorities concerned.

Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts, Malwinder Singh Jaggi, Secretary Tourism, neither responded to calls, nor to text message.