Aaqib Khan
GULMARG, Jan 20 (KNS) : Apni Party Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir has accused the local administration of gross mismanagement in Gulmarg, alleging that pony and sledge operators are becoming "victims" of poor governance.
In a social media post, Mir as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) said that the operators' demands are "genuine" and called on the government to address their grievances promptly. He also advocated for maintaining established environmental protection measures and implementing an effective traffic management system.
Mir’s criticism follows a protest staged on Tuesday by the Gulmarg Pony and Sledge Association.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe group expressed grave concern over the administration's decision to permit tourist vehicles direct access to the Gondola base and other key locations—a move they say critically threatens the livelihoods of roughly 5,000 families reliant on the traditional trades.
During the peaceful demonstration, the Association’s President stated that their concerns have been consistently ignored by authorities. "We have approached the MLAs of Gulmarg, Baramulla, and Kreeri multiple times, but no constructive outcome has emerged," he said.
Appealing for urgent intervention, he asked, "Where are these 5,000 families, who depend on this business for survival, supposed to go?" (KNS)