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| Various organizations hail ban on commission counters enroute Vaishno Devi shrine | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Jan 30 : Terming the decision to impose ban on all commission counters enroute Vaishno Devi shrine as a pilgrimage friendly step, the various political, trade, tourism, social as well as religious organizations and other stake holders have hailed Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) for disbanding the collection points.
In a joint meeting of All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association (AJHLA), Hotels Restaurants and Bars Association Jammu (HRBAJ), Jammu Paryatan Vikas Mandal (JPVM), Hoteliers Association Talab Khatikan Jammu (HATKJ), Shastri Pujari Sangh (SPS) and Tourists Trade Bodies Association (TTBA) convened under the chairmanship of AJHLA President Inderjeet Khajuria, the members welcomed the prohibitory orders issued by the Chief Executive SMVDSB to demolish unauthorized counters setup by some people on the Vaishno Devi Shrine track from Darshini Deori to Bhawan charging commission from ponywallahs, palki wallahs, and pithoos which was ultimately passed on to the pilgrims, as also taking affective steps to check fleecing of pilgrims by some unscrupulous elements.
The meeting was attended by President HRBAJ H.S Anand, President JPYM Kuldeep Wahi, President HATKJ, President SPS Rampal Shastri and President TTBA.
The meeting asked the Shrine Board to introduce prefixed rates for all these services rendered to the pilgrims. It was observed that for last two years contract of ponywallahs, pithoos and palkiwallahs services has not been auctioned which is causing heavy financial loss.
It was demanded that the auction should be held and revenue collected should be utilized for providing more facilities to the pilgrims.
The participants also demanded that the rates of eatables, beverages etc at all points at the track and Bhawan should be fixed reasonably, so that the pilgrims have no cause to grumble.
Shri Ram Sena has also hailed SMVDSB for disbanding the unauthorized collection counters on the track from Darshani Deodi in Katra to Vaishno Devi Bhawan, which were charging commission from the yatris for hiring ponywallas/palkiwallahs/pithus by the pilgrims.
Ram Sena state president Rajiv Mahajan said that these counter holders were unnecessarily harassing the pilgrims and collecting money/commission from ponywallahs/palkiwallahs/pithus/pilgrims, without any territorial jurisdiction or permission from the Shrine Board. Mahajan appreciated the step taken by SMVDSB for disbanding of all collection counters on the track. Dogra Front and Shiv Sena Jammu & Kashmir President Ashok Gupta has also welcomed the step taken by the Additional CEO, SMVDSB as it is going to remove all the unlawful activities like unauthorized collections from the pilgrims enroute holy shrine. Gupta stated that the jurisdiction of SMVDSB is Darshani Deodi to Bhawan and as per the instructions of Additional CEO the hooliganism of the commission agents is finished but such malpractices are still prevailing in Katra as it is under the jurisdiction of State Government. Dogra Front and Shiv Sena president demanded that the territorial jurisdiction of Katra should also be transferred to SMVDSB as it will help to remove all unwanted entities.
Meanwhile, Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCI) Jammu also hailed the SMVDSB decision to disband all commission counters on Vaishno Devi track.
In a statement issued here today, CCI President Y. V. Sharma said that the ban imposed on collection counters enroute Vaishno Devi cave shrine by the Shrine Board is a welcome step though it was long overdue as such a practice was fleecing the pilgrims adding that by doing away with this, the Vaishno Devi yatries would certainly heave a sigh of relief. |
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