SRINAGAR, Oct 18: In a brazen violation of the recent observations made by the High Court that no golf course should come up in Sonamarg as it would ruin the beauty of the tourist resort, an influential business group in Kashmir is pitching for constructing a golf course there.
The influential businessman, who is allegedly under the scanner of National Investigative Agency, which is probing the terror funding case, has come up with a statement in the local press arguing that there was a need for a golf course at Sonamarg. The businessman, who has stakes in Sonamarg, wants a golf course be constructed as otherwise his investments will be at stake.
Insiders said the businessman "hosted a lavish party at Sonamarg where he had invited some like- minded people from the business fraternity to pass a resolution that golf course should be constructed."
Sources said the businessman had approached a minister close to him to get a Cabinet decision passed in this regard so that the golfing greens come up in the meadows. "The minister had asked the businessman to get a so-called resolution passed in favour of the golf course so that the same could make a ground to press for a Cabinet nod," the insiders said.
Earlier this month the High Court underscored that no golf course should come up in golden meadow of Sonamarg as it would ruin the beauty of the health resort.
"We are informed that building operations and controlling authority (BOCA) of Sonamarg held a meeting on October 9 to take a call on a proposed golf course. The BOCA has categorically stated that the golf course shouldn't come in the meadow. We are also of the same view as it will ruin the beauty of meadow," a bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey said.
While the environmentalists and pressure groups had welcomed the High court viewpoint, the businessman has his own stakes.
The businessman in question wasn't available for comments.