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| BUREAUCRATS TAKE DILAWAR MIR FOR A RIDE | | |
Jammu, September 17:-Tourism department authorities seem to have ignored the importance of pilgrim tourism which has become bone of states economy after militancy hit tourist traffic to Kashmir. Pilgrim traffic to Mata Vaishno devi shrine continues to be a top money spinner for the people of the Jammu region but the tourism authorities are yet to take a decision on organizing Navrata festival. Not only this, bureaucrats in the tourism department continue to take Tourism minister for a ride by not briefing him properly about the future activities of their department.
This became evident when the Tourism Minister, Mr Dilawar Mir,had no knowledge about Tourism Department’s routine programme of organizing a 9-day long Navratra festival at Jammu and Katra.The Mata Vaishnov Devi Shrine Board contributes 50 per cent funds for the festival. The Board authorities said that last year it had paid to the Tourism Department Rs.8.50 lakhs out of the total expenses of Rs.17 lakhs.
The authorities said that “so far we have not received any information whether the state Tourism Department had planned to hold the festival which attracts large number of pilgrim tourists.” They said “since we have no information from the Government we are not prepared to do it on our own because adequate security cover was required for cultural troupes and other artists who perform during the festival.”
When Kashmir Independent team contacted Mr Dilawar Mir in Jammu on Sunday he said “I have no knowledge about the festival.” He wanted to know whether the Shrine Board had submitted any plan and when informed that holding the festival was the baby of Tourism Department he said that he would look into the matter.
Mr Mir issued instruction to the concerned authorities in the Department of Tourism to submit a detailed report on the festival so that required funds could be made available. In reply to a question he said that during the festival adequate security cover would also be made available not only in Jammu but on the route to Katra.
Shrine Board authorities expect a pilgrim figure of over 3 lakhs during the nine days of Navratra.A senior Board official said “we are expecting the pilgrim traffic to cross 70 lakhs this year. |
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