90% of 5000 hotels built in 6 years illegal in Kashmir: J&K L-G Manoj Sinha
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha stated that 90% of the 5,000 hotels built in Kashmir over the last six years are illegal. He criticized local hoteliers for overpricing and encroachment while acknowledging their role in the region's tourism-driven economy.
Why it matters
This highlights the conflict between rapid, unregulated tourism development and legal compliance in sensitive ecological and political regions.
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday (July 27, 2026) ticked off local hoteliers and said “90% of 5000 hotels in Kashmir were illegal” and named prominent hotelier Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya, who got a notice by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in June this year.
“During the last six years, 5,000 hotels were constructed, 90% of them illegal, including that of Mushtaq Chaya. The fact, however, remains that it generated an investment of more than 80,000-1 lakh crore. Around 90% of locals invested in these projects and 10% (from outside) by those who are into the tour and travel business,” Mr. Sinha said.
The J&K L-G was speaking at a conference “Ethical approach towards tourism” organised by the Tourist Trade Interest Guild (TTIG) at Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC).
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