Uttarakhand: Tender issued for running cruise in Tehri Lake, application from son of Minister Satpal Maharaj, questions raised

Suyash Rawat, son of Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj, has come into the limelight regarding a case. The matter is related to the tender issued for operating cruise boats and yacht boats in Tehri Lake.

Recently, applications were invited for operating cruise and yacht boats in Tehri Lake. Minister Satpal Maharaj’s son Suyash also started this process.

Applied in. However, controversy has arisen over the fact that in a state where there is migration due to employment, on what basis was a minister’s son from Dehradun given preference instead of giving preference to a local?

People say that the work being done in Tehri Lake was said to be given to local people on priority, whereas Suyyash Rawat’s original residence is in Pauri and he has given his current address as Dehradun.

Sources also claim that the decision to extend the application date was taken especially for Suyyash Rawat. It is noteworthy that the last date of application was earlier 26 July 2024, which was extended to 17 August 2024. Although, officially it was said that the date has been extended due to natural disasters, but sources say that it had no connection with the disasters.

Tehri Special Area Tourism Development Authority had sought application

In the last week of June, Tehri Special Area Tourism Development Authority office had invited applications for operating cruise boats and yacht boats in Tehri Lake. This decision has been taken due to the recent natural calamities that hit the district, which hindered many applicants from submitting their applications on time.

According to the information released, the last date for submission of application form was fixed as July 26, 2024, till 12:30 pm.

Extended application deadline

The authority had also extended the application deadline. It was extended to August 17, 2024, at 12:30 pm.

It was told in the notice of extension of application, this opportunity will be the last for all the interested applicants who want to obtain the license to operate boat in Tehri Lake. The district administration has made it clear that this deadline is final and any application received after this will not be accepted.

The authority had also clarified that the applications of the applicants who have already submitted their applications will remain valid as before and they do not need to apply again.

The District Magistrate and Chief Executive Officer have appealed to all the applicants to ensure that they submit their applications to the office of the District Tourism Development Officer within the time limit. With this information, people interested in operating boats in Tehri Lake have been given one last chance, so that they can implement their plans on time.

Congress also asked questions

Regarding this matter, Congress spokesperson Sujatha Paul said that how did the District Magistrate consider the minister’s son’s application for operating a cruise boat as successful? Is this not a conflict of interest? Which panel approved this? You talk a lot about familyism, this is your familyism otherwise what is it? Minister Satpal Maharaj of the government with overwhelming majority should answer this.