Farooq8217;s folly

Most people would think a world class golf course is not exactly the number one priority for Srinagar today. There are scores of other mor...

Most people would think a world class golf course is not exactly the number one priority for Srinagar today. There are scores of other more important demands on the state8217;s purse. Srinagar8217;s streets could do with repairs, its schools need playgrounds, its old wooden houses urgent upgradation. Since the ban on shahtoosh puts them out of business, the herders, wool gatherers, weavers and traders who made a living from it would undoubtedly like to see the government create new job opportunities. The list is long. When the rest of Jamp;K8217;s requirements, hopes and ambitions are taken into account, the golf course becomes very insignificant. In such a context when Farooq Abdullah, whose fondness for the golf course is notorious, goes and sets aside Rs 20 crore for a new and improved facility, it is bound to seem like the height of frivolity. But the Jamp;K government thinks otherwise and is going ahead with hiring experts, redesigning the course and relaying the turf at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Golf Club.

What can Farooq Abdullah be thinking of? The image of Nero fiddling when Rome burned comes to mind. But that is probably too facile a view of what is going on in Srinagar. Two or three things might explain why the expenditure on the golf course was thought worthwhile. Abdullah and others might argue that everyone needs some recreation to unwind 8212; particularly leaders working in extremely stressful situations. Further, if their form of recreation happens to be golf, they need a golf course. The counter to this line of reasoning is obvious: why not continue their recreation on the old golf course? A second justification might be tourism. A world class golf course would bring more golfers to Srinagar and serious golfers need more than a beautiful landscape; they need a challenging course. The trouble with this argument is that the Jamp;K tourism department is setting its sights too low. If its high-value tourism they are interest in, there is a lot more the department should be thinking of than golf. And, inany case, the factors that keep the general tourist away 8212; fear of militant violence 8212; are also what will keep the high-value tourist away.

People in strife-torn areas certainly need to be reminded that there are good things in life and they are within reach. They also need to escape from time to time from their everyday reality. But providing exclusivist facilities is not the answer. The government could look for other ways of helping people cope in these difficult times. If the Abdullah government were to spend more on entertainment and recreation centres in Srinagar and on making gardens and parks more secure for ordinary people and the visitor, it would make more sense than that golf course. Considering its straitened circumstances the Jamp;K government should think twice about new spending and, indeed, should heed New Delhi8217;s advice and start expenditure cutting. And it would be wise to look instead to the private sector to finance that world class golf course.