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| Confusing orders put question mark on rafting at Pahalgam | | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 21: Three deaths at famous tourist resort Pahalgam in last ten days has created chaos among the government with officials coming up with two different orders, one claiming to put an end to rafting activities while other directs officials to ensure strict implementation of adventure tourism guidelines.
On Thursday, the government ordered for suspension of all rafting related activities at all tourist destinations particularly at Pahalgam and Sonamarg. The decision as per officials was taken keeping in view the safety of tourists. The order has been issued three days after three people died including a tourist guide Rouf Ahmad Dar, who lost his life while saving the lives of five tourists at Lidder River in Pahalgam on May 31.
Also, a tourist employee and a participant of a rafting championship died in the same river on June 18.
"In the interest of administration and safety of tourists, the rafting related activities at all tourists destinations particularly at south Kashmir's Pahalgam and central Kashmir's Sonamarg shall remain suspended," reads a government order issued on Thursday.
As per the order, the rafting will remain suspended till a proper mechanism technical guidance is put in place at all such locations. "Concerned officers shall ensure implementation of the order in latter and spirit and report compliance," reads the government order.
However, the tourism department issued another order in 24 hours, directing officials to ensure strict implementation of adventure tourism guidelines.
"To ensure the safety and the security of participants during adventure activities like, Rafting, Paragllding, SKING, Zipling etc, all the field functionaries of tourism department shall strictly ensure implementation of adventure tourism guidelines issued by government order no 51-TSM of 2019, dated 14-02-2019. It shall be ensured that adventure activities are carried out only after the field functionaries of the department fully satisfy themselves that precautionary measures have been put in place as per the above guidelines," said an order issued by Rigzian Sampheal, Commissioner Secretary, Tourism Department.
The order said, "The registering authorities shall conduct a special drive exclusively for online adventure tour operators, the process shall be completed strictly by 7th July 2019, falling which the unregistered units, if any shall be sealed and appropriate action under the law shall be initiated against them without any further reference. The registering authorities shall at the expiry of the stipulated time submit a categorical certificate that no un-registered unit is operating in their respective jurisdictions."
It said, "The slightest of dereliction on part of the registering authority or any other field functionary shall invite disciplinary action as mandated under rules." Earlier, this month three persons including a rafting guide died when their raft boat capsized in Lidder river in Pahalgam.
The back to back orders issued by the government depict its frustration over its failure in ensuring the safety of human lives. |
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