Disregarding building codes: Flood devastation makes hoteliers victims

Many riverside guest lodgings in Swat were swept away causing billions in losses

PESHAWAR:

The losses to property resulting from this year’s monsoon flooding are not just limited to residential places but extend to the hospitality industry as well.

Consequently, hoteliers have lost a source of income and tourists are now short of options. It has only been a few years since the revival of tourism in Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) but with the devastation left behind by the floods, tourism as a source of livelihood for the local population is in jeopardy.

One such affectee is local hotelier Jangir Khan, a resident of the picturesque town of Bahrain. “I lost 5 hotels due to the floods. They were my only source of income and I have no recourse,” he lamented, adding that all that was left of his guest lodgings was mud and sand. Jangir further said that not only did his hotels provide employment to locals but thousands of tourists benefitted from them year round.

“Therefore, I wish the government would help us,” he implored. Another hotelier, Samad Khan, who is a resident of the popular tourist spot, Kalam, reiterated Jangir’s views, while talking to The Express Tribune. “More than 30 hotels were destroyed in Kalam. Resultantly, locals have been rendered jobless and tourists have nowhere to go,” he informed. Samad also informed that at this point in time there was no exact timeline on when the hotels or other infrastructure in the area would be rebuilt. When asked about the extent of losses suffered, President of the Swat Hotel Industry Association, Zahid Khan, replied that in total more than 50 hotels had been damaged by the floods in the entire district.

“The losses amount to roughly Rs 10 to 15 billion. However, the government is yet to provide any sort of compensation,” said Zahid. However, the government does not feel it is responsible for providing any compensation. Instead, as per Deputy Commissioner (DC), Swat, Junaid Khan, the River Protection Act has been implemented in the district so that no one can construct a hotel on the riverside anymore. “The provincial irrigation department has highlighted the buildings which disturb the flow of the water and now the district administration is working on their report to prevent any future tragedies,” the DC explained. Jangir, Samad, and Zahid alike feel that the government’s actions are unjustified.

“These lands belong to our forefathers and we can construct whatever we please on them,” an irate Jangir said. Whereas, Samad was of the view that the hotels existed 50 years ago as well but the government had not stopped anyone then. Zahid, the district’s hotel industry President, said, “hotel owners give millions of rupees in tax to the national exchequer every year, so it is unfair to impose the River Protection Act.” He inquired from The Express Tribune that if houses, schools, and other encroachments could exist on the riverside, then why not hotels? When asked if the local administration was aware of the local hospitality industry’s concerns, the DC, Junaid Khan, replied in the affirmative.

“We are aware of the concerns. We have invited the entirety of the hotel industry association and will negotiate with them regarding the implementation of our decision. We will request them to not construct hotels on the riverside again,” Junaid told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2022.