The slopes of Auli in Joshimath are famous across the world for skiing and winter sports but some of the infrastructure constructed here for the SAF winter games is now being misused. While the number of tourists visiting the glassview points meant for viewing the high Himalayas from here has decreased, these shelters have become favourite hangout spots for boozers who even leave behind empty liquor bottles and other trash here.
It is pertinent to mention here that as part of arrangements made for the SAF winter games 2010, glasshouses were constructed at various sites in Auli to enable tourists to enjoy a panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks. However, in absence of maintenance these glasshouses now present a picture of neglect. In various glasshouses, the chairs meant for tourists have broken down while there are empty liquor bottles, used disposable glasses and empty snacks packets littering these glasshouses. local adventure tourism professional Sanjay Kunwar said while tourists are not being seen in the glasshouses in Auli, lovers of liquor have become regular users of these houses.
Due to people using the glasshouses for drinking liquor, tourists are keeping a distance from this facility which is also sending a wrong message among the tourists regarding Auli as a tourist destination. Complaints have been made to the tourism department repeatedly but no action has been taken by the officials concerned regarding this, he added. Observers point out that tourism infrastructure developed at Auli after spending a considerable sum is being neglected and misused to the detriment of the very tourism which the facilities were intended to encourage. It remains to be seen whether the authorities concerned take necessary action to ensure that the facilities meant for visitors are neither neglected nor misused.