Shadow Correspondent
SRINAGAR, AUG 08:
Advisor to Governor, K Vijay Kumar reviewed the functioning of Department of Hospitality & Protocol at a meeting convened, here today. The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Planning & Monitoring Department Rohit Kansal, Director Hospitality & Protocol Khalid Majid Drabu, Joint Directors Kashmir, Jammu and other senior officers of the department.
Principal Secretary Planning & Monitoring, Rohit Kansal gave an overview of the department and informed about the main activities that are being carried out by H&P department in the state as well as outside the state.
During the meeting a detailed presentation was made by Director H&P regarding organizational structure, functional profile, financial status, properties/assets of the department lying inside and outside the state, various activities of H&P, major achievements, action plan for further developing the infrastructure and other important issues.
It was informed that H&P department has been very vital wing to extend the courtesy from the Government to the VVIPs, higher dignitaries and other State Guests with regard to reception, transport and providing of accommodation to these dignitaries in the state. The department is working with a mission to provide quality Hospitality and Protocol services and promoting J&K brand of Hospitality. The H&P department also caters to the requirement of hospitality and sumptuary on the occasion of Independence Day, republic day other festivities and official parties. With regard to the infrastructure of the department, the meeting was told that it is running a considerable number of structures in and outside the vicinity of Srinagar and Jammu cities and for the infrastructural development and maintenance of these structures, the Government has also established an Engineering wing in the department.
Director H&P informed that the department manages State Guest Houses/Circuit Houses in both the capital cities and Convention Centre in Jammu. Besides, the department also owns properties at few other places in the state. The department as a total of 34 assets including 11 in Jammu and 23 in Kashmir division, he added. The meeting was apprised about the revenue realized by the department and the expenditure incurred on developing and up-gradation of the infrastructure. It was given out that in the year 2017-18, Rs 172.83 lakh has been realized while as Rs 45 lakh in the current fiscal till ending May. The Advisor was also apprised about the Proposed Activities for 2018-19 including construction of VIP Hut at Akad, Anantnag, completion of VIP Hut at Harwan, up-gradation of VIP Hut at Dachigam, up-gradation of Guest House Jammu, construction of Additional block at Circuit House Jammu, construction of New block of Guest House in Jammu and other works. With regard to assets of the department outside the state, the meeting was provided with the details of properties at New Delhi and other cities including Mumbai, Chandigarh and Amritsar under the control of Resident Commission. The meeting was also informed about the ongoing and works to be taken up during the current year including renovation/up-gradation of various existing properties at these places so that guest houses would be equipped with modern facilities for the convenience of the visitors.
Various issues pertaining to the department also discussed briefly and decisions were taken in the meeting accordingly.
Addressing the officers, the Advisor appreciated the department for properly maintaining the properties at all the places and for their efforts in promoting J&K brand of Hospitality.
Taking note on not using the allocated funds under CAPEX, he stressed for utilizing the same for developmental activities to further meet the present requirement. The proposed activities or works must be taken up in time so that the provided funds would not be lapsed, he added.
K Vijay Kumar said that the quality needs to be ensured while taking up construction/renovation works. He called for ensuring quality of services to the visitors at Guest Houses/Circuit Houses at the places.
While briefing the Advisor about another responsibility given to the department, it was apprised that it is looking after the Toshkhana Organization which is meant for preserving the stored costly articles of Maharaja’s time along with the maintaining of proper inventory of all the items stored in the Toshkhana.
The Advisor sought the details of the articles and asked for digitally preserving the valuable articles kept in the Toshkhana. Further, he also asked for inspection of the articles stored by the experts for their assessment.
With regard to the security of Toshkhana, the Advisor stressed for putting in an effective security plan by adapting latest security gadgets.
