RTI Reveals Administrative Gaps in Sonamarg Development Authority
Land Yet to Be Demarcated Two Decades After Transfer
Ganderbal, Oct 4, KNT: An RTI reply has revealed significant administrative and developmental gaps within the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA), including the absence of physical land demarcation nearly two decades after more than 7,674 kanals and 17 marlas of land were transferred to the authority for the planned development of the hill resort.
Information provided to RTI activist M.M. Shuja under the Right to Information Act, 2005 shows that the SDA currently operates with only five sanctioned permanent posts while relying on 67 casual and daily wage workers. The permanent staff includes the Chief Executive Officer, Accounts Officer, Senior Assistant and two Multi-Tasking Staff. Despite limited manpower, the authority manages development works, sanitation, and revenue-related activities in the tourist destination.
The RTI response disclosed that the land transferred to the SDA in 2007 under Government Order No. Rev(S) 256 has still not been physically demarcated. Officials said the absence of demarcation has complicated land management and retrieval efforts in the environmentally sensitive Sonamarg area.
According to official records, Sonamarg presently has 110 accommodation units comprising 28 hotels and huts, 47 home stays and guest houses, and 21 restaurants in the private sector. In addition, 14 government-run dormitories and huts are managed by the Tourism Department, JKTDC and the SDA. These collectively offer 1,231 rooms with a bed capacity of 2,580.
On waste management, the SDA informed that an Electro Magnetic Disintegrator of 11 metric tonne capacity and a 5 metric tonne Auto Insta Composter and Segregator have been installed at Sarbal Sonamarg at a cost of Rs 2.40 crore to scientifically process biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.
Financial data shared in the RTI indicates that the authority generated Rs 16.36 lakh in 2020, Rs 35.18 lakh in 2021, Rs 9.07 lakh in 2022, Rs 258 lakh in 2023, and Rs 412.09 lakh in 2024. Till June 2025, revenue collection stood at Rs 97 lakh, taking the total earnings to over Rs 830 lakh during the last five years.
The authority also stated that no new parking projects were taken up during the past three years. However, an eight-seater public convenience block was constructed at Sarbal during 2022–23 at a cost of Rs 15.07 lakh. Prefabricated kiosks with public conveniences were also installed at a cost of Rs 27.40 lakh.
Significantly, the RTI response revealed that no budget was allocated for tourism promotion, road shows, or cultural events in Sonamarg between June 2020 and June 2025. During the same period, no plantation drives were carried out and no new hotels or guest houses were granted permission.
Tourist arrival data shows a steady rise in visitors to Sonamarg with around 57,000 tourists in 2020, 3.46 lakh in 2021, 7.17 lakh in 2022, 7.34 lakh in 2023 and 8.90 lakh in 2024. By June 2025, the tourist footfall stood at 48,139.
The RTI also confirmed that action has been taken against certain hotels and guest houses found violating permission norms and that a report regarding these violations has been submitted to the Tourism Department. [KNT]
