Srinagar, Dec 15: The row between the Government and the ponywalls and guides over the construction of third phase of Gondola in famous ski-resort Gulmarg is all set to play spoilsport to the Christmas and New Year celebrations at the hill-station.
The Mazdoor Union Gulmarg-Tangmarg—an amalgam comprising nearly 3600 ponywalls, laborers and guides maintain that the construction of Gondola will hit their livelihood and accused the Government of failing to compensate them for the losses due to running of the first two phases of the world highest ropeway for past over one decade.
To press for implementation of their demands, the Union on Wednesday announced to go on indefinite strike from December 20. Incidentally, the tourism players of the Valley fear it will drastically affect flow of tourists to the ski-resort and smooth conduct of the winter games.

CONFRONTATION
When the first phase of Gondola was commissioned upto Kongdoori in 1998, it was strongly opposed by the ponywalls and guides. “We had reached an agreement with the authorities that the Gondola will be operated only during winter and only used to ferry skiers to the Kongdoori slopes. Ironically, the Gondola was used for round the year and opened for tourists as well drastically hitting our livelihood,” Bashir Ahmad Mir, the president of Mazdoor Union Gulmarg-Tangmarg told Greater Kashmir.
Mir said following an agitation, the authorities had promised to pay the Union a share of 15 percent of the Gondola’s earnings. “However, the successive regimes resorted to dilly-dallying tactics and constructed second phase of Gondola up to Apharwath adding insult to our injury. We had launched an agitation but it was muzzled by use for force,” Mir said.

FRESH ROW
The ponywallas and guides maintain that they somehow managed to meet their two ends by ferrying and guiding tourists to the Mary Shoulder hills and its adjoining areas. “The construction of a lift from Kongdoori to Mary Shoulder will push us on the verge of starvation. It seems the Government is bent upon to render us jobless,” Mir said.
Pertinently in November this year, the Union has observed strike for 10 days. Authorities had to use force and impose curfew to thwart the protests. Following assurance by the senior administrative officials including the Deputy Commissioner Varmul to look into its demands by December 14, the Union had called off the strike.
“As the officials have expressed helplessness to fulfill our demands, we have decided to go on indefinite strike from December 20. We will not allow movement of any vehicle or tourist towards Gulmarg. We will hamper all the functions on Christmas, New Year and winter sport events including skiing championships and training camps,” Mir added.

OFFICIALS SPEAK
The Minister of Tourism, Nawang Ringzin Jora, said the Government will not succumb to the “blackmailing tactics” of the ponywallas and guides. “Government has been supporting all sections of people including ponywallas and guides in Gulmarg. After construction of Gondola, the affected ponywallas and guides were provided shops and kiosks in Kongdoori. If they have some problem they can’t take whole Gulmarg hostage. We want to make it clear that the Gondola will continue to function and nobody will be allowed to dictate terms to the Government,” Jora told Greater Kashmir.
However, he maintained that Government is committed to resolve the reasonable demands of people.
The Managing Director of Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC), Talat Pervez, said the demands of the Union have been forwarded to the Government.
“Government is ready to help those people who have been genuinely affected by functioning of the Gondola. But they are very few and have to be identified. The people particularly the ponywallas and guides have to cooperate with us,” Pervez said. The MLA Tangmarg, Ghulam Hassan Mir refused to comment on the issue.

STAKEHOLDERS CONCERNED
A former tourism official who has served in Gulmarg said the row between the Government and the ponywallas will affect the tourism inflow to the Gulmarg. “It will send harm the image of the Valley as foreign and professional skiers throng the ski-resort during the winter.” he said.
“After the recent unrest in the Valley, Winter is the only hope for making up for our losses. The tourists have made advance bookings with us on the eve of Christmas and New Year. The matter should be resolved at the earliest in the best interest of tourism in the Valley,” said a hotelier at Gulmarg.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST