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| Authorities engaged in politics, pilgrims suffer fleecing | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | June 19
With the annual Amarnath yatra, which attracts lakhs of pilgrims from across the length and breadth of the country, becoming turf of political tug of war between various players, the incoming pilgrims have been allowed to be fleeced and harassed at every next step after entering Lakhanpur.
Even as the hotels, restaurants, way side vends and shops have hiked the rates to overcharge the pilgrims, the traffic police too have come to the scene. En EARLY TIMES team traveling with the pilgrims along various stretches of roads from Lakhanpur to Banihal has found that the pilgrims fall prey to greedy hands at several places.
Immediately after crossing Lakhanpur, one can see long queues of vehicles bearing registration numbers of others states surrounded by the men in blue. The Traffic Police cops stationed at various locations usually leave the local vehicles to pass without asking anything while vehicles coming from outside the state are made to halt for several queries.
“Our vehicle was stopped at a place called Chadwal Morh. The cops asked for papers –RC, insurance certificate and driving license etc. When every this was found in place, they asked why drivers and passengers were not wearing the safety belts”, said Himmat Singh a pilgrim from Haryana. He added, “we were made to wait in the scorching heat for around 20 minutes and allowed to proceed only after slapping fine”.
This is not the case in isolation. Almost every vehicle is being put to same treatment along Highway. The problem is more perverse on the stretch between Lakhanpur and Jammu. The Amarnath pilgrims who can made brand ambassadors of hospitality of Jammu and Kashmir are being left with bad experiences as top authorities are engaged in a political tussle leaving little time to look at what is happening at the ground.
When the passengers turn to eateries along Highway or in the city, they face the same problem. A bottle of aerated water with a printed retail price of Rs 10 or 15 is being sold at Rs 20 to 25. Dhabas and small restaurants along the way and also in Jammu city too are resorting to same practice.
Meanwhile, in view complaints regarding overcharging, the Directorate of Tourism, under the supervision of its Deputy Director Amit Sharma has launched a campaign to check the prices. “We launched a drive to ensure that the pilgrims are not overcharged and check other mall practices under the Tourist Trade Act by the providers of various tourist services and facilities”, said Amit Sharma.
Earlier today a team headed by Amit conducted surprise inspection of hotels, restaurants, travel and tour agencies as well as dry fruit shops located at Gumat area near bus stand and Shiv Market near Railway Station, Jammu.
Such agencies or shopkeepers who were operating without registration were warned to immediately get themselves registered failing which action under law will be initiated against the defaulters. He also directed all the agencies and shopkeepers to display their rates prominently and ensure that no complaints of overcharging are received by the Tourism department from the Amarnath yatries and other pilgrims or routine tourists who are thronging the city during these days.
The drive will continue during the entire period of Amarnath yatra in other tourist areas of the region also to ensure that pilgrims or tourists visiting the state are not cheated or overcharged. |
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