Wildflower Hall: Why is the Sukhu Government Wasting Public Money on Consultants?
SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government’s decision to hire a consultant for issuing tenders for the iconic Wildflower Hall has sparked outrage.
Critics are questioning why a fund-strapped state, constantly lamenting a fund shortage, is paying lakhs—possibly crores—to an external consultant for a job that the tourism department and top bureaucrats could have easily handled.
CM’s U-turn on Wildflower Hall
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had earlier declared that the state would run Wildflower Hall on its own after reclaiming it from the Oberoi Group.
That bold statement has now been conveniently forgotten. Instead of taking charge, the government is handing over the task of inviting bids to a private consultant—raising serious doubts about its intentions.
Why Ignore the State’s Own Experts?
The government already has a full-fledged tourism department, an entire team of senior bureaucrats sitting in the Secretariat, and even a high-powered committee led by retired IAS officer Tarun Shridhar.
This committee was formed specifically to revive the tourism sector and submitted its recommendations months ago—without taking a single rupee in consultancy fees.
Yet, the government has ignored their advice and opted to splurge on a consultant for a basic job.
Double Standards on Fiscal Discipline
The government repeatedly talks about financial discipline, complains of a fund crunch, and even struggles to pay salaries on time.
But when it comes to hiring private consultants, the purse strings magically loosen.
It is the same government that is spending crores on renovating offices in the Secretariat while telling the public to brace for tough financial times.
In a case in point to juxtapose and substantiate this, when a DPR was pleaded to allot funds for the new digital media policy, his brusque retort was: We are facing a shortage of funds.
The Never-Ending Wildflower Hall Saga
The legal battle over Wildflower Hall has already drained the state exchequer for two decades.
After reclaiming the property after High Court rejected plea of the EIH Ltd, the government had a golden opportunity to make it operational without unnecessary expenditures.
Instead, it is now embarking on another long-winded, expensive process.
What is the Real Motive?
If the tourism department, bureaucracy, and existing committees are all being sidelined, then who is truly benefiting from this consultant appointment?
Is this just another way to divert public funds under the garb of "global bidding"? Or is it top Babus in Secretariat running show, misleading the government?
The people of Himachal Pradesh deserve an answer.
Readers' Comments:
Cost of consultant is generally passed on to the successful bidder. He quotes his rate plus the consultancy cost.
Hope HP gets best offer.
Oberoi shall have first right of refusal ...if they don't match the highest bidder only then it goes to someone else- A reader in New Delhi.
