MPs try to snatch copies of bill
Women quota bill introduced amid high drama in RS

NEW DELHI, May 6: Amid high drama and scuffles between members, a resolute Government introduced a Bill providing for reservation of one-third of seats for women in Parliament and State legislatures in the Rajya Sabha today.

With Congress MPs providing protective cover, Law Minister H R Bhardwaj introduced the controversial Bill in the midst of Samajwadi Party members trying to snatch its copies from the hands of the Minister.

SP members stormed the well soon after the House resumed at noon in an apparent attempt to stall introduction of the Bill which they have been opposing along with JD(U).

However, the disruptions that included raising of slogans against MNS chief Raj Thackeray could not dissuade the Government from going ahead and introducing The Constitution (108th amendment) bill 2008 which was cleared by the Union Cabinet last night.

As agitated SP member Abu Asim Azmi and his party colleagues tried to snatch the Bill copy from Bhardwaj, Congress members intervened and Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chaudhary repulsed the attempts by pushing Azmi away.

Expecting trouble, Bhardwaj was seated in the middle row of the treasury benches flanked by two women Ministers-Kumari Selja and Ambika Soni. On top of it, Congress women MPs Jayanti Natarajan and Alka Balram Kshatriya guarded Bhardwaj from SP members who had taken the position for the go.

Top leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Leader of Opposition Jaswant Singh were witness to the high drama. Several Lok Sabha MPs were also seated in the gallery.

"Take back the Women’s Reservation Bill" was among the slogans raised by the SP members from the well of the Rajya Sabha.

They were supported by the JD(U) members who were on their feet.

Even as the din continued, P J Kurien, who was in the chair, asked Ministers and members to lay the papers listed against their names.

Hell broke loose immediately after the completion of the paper laying process as Kurien called the Law Minister to introduce the Bill.

As soon as the Government managed to introduce the Bill, the chair adjourned the House till 1400 hours.

Different Governments since 1996 have tried to get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed without success.

It was one of the main promises in the National Common Minimum Programme of the UPA Government as well. However, Manmohan Singh Government could not secure political consensus among the UPA partners, notably RJD. The BJP and Left favoured the measure aimed at women’s empowerment.

The main objection from the SP, JD(U) as also the RJD related to their demand for quota within quota.

The latest attempt comes in the last year of the tenure of the UPA Government which has managed to see through some of the flagship programmes like the RTI, NREGA as also the OBC quota in higher educational institutions. (PTI)

MP charged with indiscipline, misconduct
Soz issues show cause notice to Madan Lal

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 6: Taking a serious note of senior Congress leader and Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha member Madan Lal Sharma’s remarks against Speaker Tara Chand and former PCC (I) chief Peerzada Mohd Sayeed, made in a public meeting in Akhnoor tehsil on Sunday, Pradesh Congress president and Union Minister for Water Resources Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz today served a show cause notice to Mr Sharma as to why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him as per the party constitution. The show cause notice charged the Parliamentarian with indulging in gross indiscipline and misconduct.

The show cause notice by Prof Soz, issued from New Delhi and addressed to Mr Sharma in Jammu, was a clear indication that the Congress has taken the issue very seriously especially the involvement of the name of UPA chairperson and AICC (I) chief Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad by the MP, who is reported to have said that he begged before the two senior leaders to get the names of Tara Chand and Peerzada Sayeed deleted from the infamous Kashmir sex scandal though the MP had denied having made any such remarks after they appeared in a section of media.

A copy of the show cause notice, faxed to newspapers from New Delhi, said the PCC (I) chief has taken a serious notice of false, uncalled for and unwarranted remarks made by Madan Lal Sharma at a public meeting in Khour on May 4 alleging that he had approached Sonia Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad, who then intervened in the matter and saved Tara Chand and Peerzada Sayeed from being implicated in the case of sex abuse.

"While making the allegations, you did not consider it necessary to take notice of the fact that the State Government had acted fast when the matter came to its notice and referred the case straightway to the CBI for inquiry", the notice, signed by Prof Soz, said.

The six paragraph notice added that Mr Sharma did not take notice of the fact that the matter was pending before the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and the High Court of Punjab & Haryana.

"You did not think it necessary to raise your grievance, if any, with the party leadership and went to the press with allegations which amounts to gross indiscipline and misconduct", the notice said and added: "therefore, you are hereby asked to show cause within a week’s time from the receipt of this notice as to why disciplinary action shall not be taken against you, as per the constitution of the party".

The Congress notice to Mr Sharma came even as he took a U-turn yesterday saying he didn’t make any such remarks after his address in the rally was reported by a section of media yesterday and was also run by some television channels.

Congress spokesman had yesterday said that the party was contemplating action against Mr Sharma for his unwarranted remarks. A Government spokesman has also denied yesterday the MP’s charge that the Chief Minister had interfered in the sex scam at the behest of Mr Sharma to save anyone.

Meanwhile, Speaker Tara Chand is addressing a rally in his Assembly constituency at Khour tomorrow morning. This will be his first public appearance after the party MP’s allegations.

Our Delhi correspondent adds : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said allegations by Sharma were false and that action would be taken against him.

"Making false accusations is unacceptable; it is against the justice system and amounts to questioning the integrity of judges. Action will definitely be taken against the MP for making a false statement," Azad told a TV news channel here.

Terminate services of ex-Minister's daughter: SAC

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 6: State Accountability Commission (SAC) today recommended to the State Government the termination of services of former Minister’s daughter and forfeiting pensionary benefits of then Manager of Integrated Water Shed Development Project.

The then Project Manager, S S Bali not only made appointment of Sofia Tabasum, daughter of the then Forest Minister Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan but also of 72 other persons without any directions from the Government to make such appointments.

As per the case before the Accountability Commission, in order to improve the cultivation, production, development and yield of crops/ food grains and to provide benefits to the persons residing in remote and rural areas, a scheme titled "Integrated Water Shed Development Project" was launched in 1990.

The Government by Cabinet decision created 224 posts to run the project with the specific direction that all the 224 posts should be filled by taking officials on the deputation from the Forest Department and without making any direct appointment.

The Government also constituted State Steering Committee with Forest Minister as its Chairman to review the working of the project, sanction of new water-shed plans, approve working programme, monitor the implementation of project and consider all issues for implementation by a Technical Committee.

It was alleged in the complaint before the Accountability Commission that S S Bali as Project Manager not only made direct appointment of Sofia Tabasum, daughter of Minister Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan as Training Officer but also appointed 72 candidates when there was no substantive posts, no eligibility criteria fixed in the Project and no selection committee was constituted by the Government.

In the enquiry, the Commission found that although S S Bali had managed to get the post of the Training Officer created by the Steering Committee in its meeting on July 3, 2000 but the appointment of Minister’s daughter was made prior to the creation of the post on November 27, 1999.

It was also noticed by the Commission that prior to the appointment of Sofia Tabasum as Training Officer, S S Bali had addressed a communication to the Secretary, Forest Department on November 26, 1999 to transfer a Gazetted Post to the project.

The Secretary promptly obliged S S Bali and transferred from Social Forestry Project, the post of Divisional Publicity Officer on November 29, 1999 for a period of six months. On the intervention of Project Manager, the life of the post was also extended till life of the project.

The Project Manager immediately appointed Sofia Tabasum on the Gazetted Post without ascertaining whether Sofia had the basic qualification for appointment to any post and more specifically whether she was qualified to be appointed as Divisional Publicity Officer. Later, S S Bali passed another order on February 8, 2000 whereby Sofia was ordered to be repatriated alongwith the post to her parent department after the life of the project came to an end.

The Accountability Commission also noticed that though the Vigilance Organisation had recommended the termination of services of Sofia on June 8, 2006 yet no action was taken. Instead a committee of Chief Conservator of Forest, Special Secretary Forest Department and Conservator Forest was framed to verify whether the appointment of Sofia was validly made.

The Commission observed that this committee was framed by the Government only after the notice was issued to the Government by SAC requiring Government to explain as to why the recommendation of the Vigilance Organisation was not implemented.

Taking serious view of Government’s inaction and indifference of the Administrative Department to take prompt action, the Commission has recommended that since S S Bali has retired from services so his pensionary benefits be forfeited and the illegal appointment of Sofia Tabasum be terminated forthwith.

Four X-Ens, 6 AEEs promoted
*27 SEs, X-Ens transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 6: Government today promoted four Executive Engineers (civil) as Superintending Engineers and six Assistant Executive Engineers as Executive Engineers in R&B Department.

The Executive engineers promoted as Superintending engineers included Nayeem Ahmed,Executive Engineer Jammu Development Authority, Mohammed Amin Taka, Executive Engineer, ERA Kashmir, Zafar Iqbal Pampori, Executive Engineer, ERA Kashmir and Puran Bharat Gandhi, Executive Engineer (R&B) Division, Nowshera.

The AEEs who were promoted as Executive Engineers included N D Khawaja AEE, Police Construction Division, Jammu, B D Pangotra, AEE, R&B Division Gandoh, Anil Kumar AEE, JKPCC, Nissar Hussain Kakpuri, AEE REW, Circle Kargil, Bashir Ahmed Rather, AEE, R&B Division, Gandoh and Altaf Ahmed Bandyal, AEE, JKPCC.

Consequent upon these promotions, the Government has issued the transfer and posting orders of 12 SEs and 15 Executive Engineers in the Department.

Wilayat Ali Wazir, SE, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) was transferred and posted as GM, JKPCC Srinagar against an available vacancy.

Mushtaq Ahmed Lone SE, R&B Circle Anantnag- Pulwama was transferred and posted as SE R&B Circle Srinagar- Budgam while Shadi Lal Bhat , SE R&B Udhampur was transferred and posted as SE, R&B Circle Baramulla against an available vacancy.

Abdul Hamid Sheikh, SE R&B Circle Rajouri- Poonch was transferred and posted as SE R&B Circle while M L Bogia, SE (Promotee) was posted as SE R&B Circle Udhampur vice S L Bhat.

Alok Mengi, SE (promotee) was posted as SE PMGSY Batote against available vacancy while Nayeem Ahmed, SE (Promotee) was posted as General Manager, JKPCC, Jammu.

Mohammed Amin Taka , SE (Promotee) was posted as SE Circular Road Project Srinagar vice Nazir Rather who was posted SE Srinagar Municipal Corporation.

Bimal Tickoo SE who was awaiting orders of posting has been adjusted as SE Jammu Municipal Corporation vice Willayat Ali Wazir and Zafar Iqbal Pampori, (Promotee) was posted as SE, REW, Kashmir against available vacancy.

Puran Bharat Gandhi, SE (Promotee) was posted as SE Circle Rajouri-Poonch vice Abdul Hamid Sheikh.

Wali Mohammed Dar, X-En, JKPCC Baramulla was transferred and posted as X-En Vigilance Organization, Kashmir and Syed Shabir Ahmed, X-En who was awaiting orders of posting has been adjusted as X-En in ERA.

Mohammed Afzal Shah, X-En who was also awaiting orders of adjustment has been posted as X-En R&B, Budgam vice Ghulam Geelani Shonthoo. Mr Shonthoo was posted as X-En R&B Chadoora against available vacancy.

Sheshtri Raj Sharma, X-En who was awaiting orders of adjustment has been posted in Jammu Development Authority against available vacancy while B L Sharma, X-En Local Bodies Jammu has been attached with the Chief Engineer , R&B Jammu till further orders.

Paramjit Singh Sehgal, X-En who was awaiting orders of posting was adjusted as X-En Local Bodies Jammu vice B L Sharma while Prakash Singh Tanoch, X-En who too was awaiting orders of posting was adjusted as X-En Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Jammu.

Satish Kumar Tickoo, awaiting orders of posting was adjusted in JKPCC and N D Khawaja X-En (Promotee) was posted as X-En PMGSY,Reasi vice Gurdeep Singh who has been asked to report to Chief Engineer, R & B Jammu.

B D Pangotra, X-En (Promottee) was posted in JKPCC while Bashir Ahmed Rather X-En also promotee was posted as X-En PMGSY Kishtwar. V K Bhasin, X-En PMGSY Kishtwar was transferred and posted as T.O to Chief Engineer, PMGSY against available vacancy.

Altaf Ahmed Banday, X-En (promotee) was posted as T.O to Secretary to Government, Housing & Urban Development Department and N N Thusoo X-En (Mechanical) awaiting orders of posting was adjusted as X-En (Mechanical) Central Heating and Hospital Division, Jammu.

52 Pak prisoners seek commutation

ISLAMABAD, May 6: Fifty-two prisoners on death row today filed a petition in Pakistan Supreme Court seeking commutation of their sentence to life imprisonment in the wake of the pardon granted to Indian national Kashmir Singh.

Advocate Muhammad Siddique Khan filed the petition on behalf of the prisoners, making the Federation of Pakistan the respondent through the Attorney General and Advocates General of the four provinces.

The petition said all condemned prisoners named in it as well as those not named in it should be shifted from death row to ordinary cells in jails across the country till the apex court decided the matter.

"It is further prayed that their cases may kindly be adjusted expeditiously to avoid further delay," it said.

It said that prisoners "who have remained in death cells for more than eight years (should) be acquitted or their death sentences may be commuted into life imprisonment".

The petition noted that the Government had already commuted the death sentence of Indian "spy" Kashmir Singh.

After spending more than three decades on death row, Singh was freed in March when President Pervez Musharraf pardoned him.

The petition also said that a declaration should be issued by the court to enable condemned prisoners to avail remedy under Article 45 of the Constitution, which empowers the President to grant a pardon or commute any sentence handed down by a court.

This should be done "not withstanding the pendency of their cases with the court or they should be extended the benefit of expectancy of life" by the court, it said.

The 52 prisoners named in the petition have been on death row for periods ranging from eight years to 15 years after the confirmation of their death sentences.(PTI)

Jawan kills JCO in Nowshera

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, May 6: An Army jawan allegedly shot dead a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) after a tiff in his unit located in forward Nowshera area of district Rajouri today.

Reports said Army jawan, Inderjeet Singh had a tiff with Naib Subedar, Lal Bahadur at an Army camp at Thain village of Nowshera at around 8.45 AM.

Defence spokesman, Lt Col S D Goswami said that in a fit of anger, the Signalman took out his service rifle and shot dead the JCO. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the incident. The jawan was taken into custody and later handed over to police, which has registered a case for investigation.

The deceased JCO, Lal Bahadur (46) belonged to Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. His body was sent to home town in UP after completion of legal formalities by Nowshera police.

Jammu cops alert Pampore police
Simran-Zooni go underground along with 30 SIM cards

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, May 6: A mother-daughter duo, who were part of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) network, have gone underground along with at least 30 SIM cards meant for Jaish militants in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.

Jammu Police have alerted their counterparts in Kashmir especially Pampore police to launch a hunt for the mother-daughter, who were untraced during two days of searches at different places including their house at Pampore in Pulwama district by the police and Operation Group teams.

Police said Meema alias Simran alias Simi daughter of Ghulam Mohd, who was a BA Part-II student and her mother Zooni Begum, who were in direct contact with Jaish ‘divisional commander’ Dawood alias Saqib alias Intezaar, a resident of Gujranwalla, Pakistan, presently operating from Mendhar, had managed as many as 30 SIM cards on different names of students and other people in Kashmir valley.

On the directions of Dawood, Meema and Zooni had to hand over the SIM cards to Mohd Arif Mughal son of Inayat Hussain, a resident of Narol, Mendhar, who was arrested by Special Operations Group (SOG) from Old JIC Naka near Paloura on Jammu-Akhnoor road on May 2.

Arif Mughal after his brief stay here was scheduled to leave for Kashmir valley where he had to meet Simran and her mother and collect SIM cards from them. He also had to deliver a letter to Meema, which had been addressed to her and written in Urdu by Dawood. In the letter, Dawood had addressed Meema alias Simran as his wife. The letter along with some incriminating documents including maps of India, United States and Israel besides important locations of Jammu have been seized by the SOG.

Sources said Jammu Police have asked their counterparts in Kashmir to look for Simran and Zooni Begum to seize 30 SIM cards besides some other important documents from their possession. The militants especially Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit were planning to strengthen their communication network with the use of SIM cards.

Arif Mughal has disclosed during his interrogation that he had been asked to collect all 30 SIM cards from the mother-daughter duo and bring them to Mendhar. He had to hand over the SIM cards to Dawood who, in turn, had to distribute it among the outfit’s cadre, sources said.

Arif Mughal told the interrogators that earlier the militants were managing SIM cards from Jammu but due to strictness by the companies and police, the over ground network of the militants was not coming forward to procure the cards on their names. The militant commanders were now depending upon their network in Kashmir valley to get the SIM cards to use mobile phones.

According to police sources, 90 per cent militant cadre in Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Ramban and Reasi districts were equipped with mobile telephones. Most of the militants keep their mobile sets off during the day and speak to each other only during the night. This is done to ensure that their movement is not traced through mobile towers.

5 officers transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 6: The Government today ordered transfer and posting of five officers.

Dr Syed Mohammad Fazalullah, Director Technical Education, has been transferred and posted as Secretary in Home Department. B A Runiyal, Director Estates will replace Dr Fazalullah as Director Technical Education.

A R Kuchay, Private Secretary to Chief Minister has been transferred and posted as Director Estates in place of Mr Runiyal.

Showkat Ahmad Mir, Special Secretary, School Education Department and Showkat Ahmad Zargar, Director Horticulture, Planning and Marketing will swap places, official sources said.

Qarra for restructuring economic system

Excelsior Correspondent

TRIVANDRUM (KERALA), May 6: Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Finance Tariq Hameed Qarra today called for restructuring of India’s federal system as a vital part of conceptualizing economic reform in the country.

Addressing the maiden National seminar on "Centre-State Relations in the Context of 13th Finance Commission" here this morning, Mr Qarra said the objective of decentralization could be achieved if the Commission contextualizes its operative recommendations by explicitly recognizing how the ongoing economic reform will have a bearing on the Centre-State transfer system, either through a change in the environment within which it works, or through direct interactions.

He said in an environment which is increasingly getting liberalized, and is driven by connectivity and constructive collaboration amongst the States, the rules of fiscal game need to undergo change. The new dispensation, he said must have three basic elements – certainty, flexibility and maneuverability.

Mr Qarra said during the last 10 years there has been a well-orchestrated move towards sub-state decentralization. As a result of two Constitutional amendments, 73rd and 74th, the long-standing two-tier federalism has been replaced by a three-tier system. A new layer of governance has been added and economic aspects of the local Governments are to be put on firmer footing. The fact of the matter is that no radical restructuring of the fiscal federal set up, as should be done after the third layer, was introduced.

In view of this, Mr Qarra said the mandate for the Commission is clear towards restructuring the framework within which the intergovernmental and fiscal relations are conducted. A major component of any State budget, he said is its share in Union taxes which is decided by the Finance Commission. Given the relative importance of this component, it is obvious that the budgetary balance of every State depends critically on it. To ensure certainty, he said the 13th Finance Commission should fix a minimum guaranteed devolution from the Centre to the States.

The Planning Commission, he said follows a dual classification of special category States and non-special category States. He said the Planning Commission earmarks a part of the total resources available to them to be distributed between these States. This system worked well until the Union Government in its wisdom decided to "bring down" many other States to the status of a special category State. Starting from three States these have now multiplied to eleven. This has adversely affected all the special category States especially, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Nagaland, which were the three original special category States. "While it is not possible for the Planning Commission to earmark any more resources, we suggest that the Commission follow a similar principle of earmarking a pool for special category States", he added.

"There is an urgent need to change the modality and mechanics of planning since the main culprit of the fiscal crisis in the States is the Plan. The problem is that in the post fiscal reform period, the approach to financing the State plans hasn’t undergone a change. All of it continues to be what it was earlier, even though the entire fiscal regime has undergone fundamental changes. The result is that it is impossible for the States to finance their plans in a manner that doesn’t add to their fiscal woes", he further said, adding the size and structure of the plan affects the fiscal balance adversely as most of the States present their budgets before their plan size and its allocation is finalized forcing the States to resort to market borrowings. With most States having huge arrears, the Planning Commission would do well, to treat recoveries of tax and non-tax arrears as ARM and as a legitimate part of plan financing.

Mr Qarra said the current context, it may be better for the Planning Commission not to determine the size of plan but focus only on the Central assistance to State plans. This approach could in some ways take them back to the pre-1969 type of project financing approach. He said fiscal devolution should first and foremost be about involvement of Panchayats in decision-making so that local priorities determine the deployment of Central Government expenditure on rural development.

Mr Qarra suggested that the design and modalities of implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes should be reviewed so as to make them more relevant and responsive to the emergent and felt needs of the State Governments.

Commissioner/Secretary Finance B B Vyas was also present at the seminar.

Service chiefs meet empowered committee

NEW DELHI, May 6: Prospects of an enhanced pay package for the Armed Forces personnel appeared to brighten today after a crucial meeting of the three Service Chiefs with the empowered Group of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekar.

Though no official word was available, the three Chiefs -Admiral Sureesh Mehta of Navy, Air Chief Marshal F H Major and Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor- are understood to have apprised the members of the empowered committee of widespread dissatisfaction in the Armed Forces rank and file over the Sixth Pay Commission report.

The Armed Forces have pressed for a 100-200 per cent hike in the newly introduced military service pay for personnel below officer rank and its payment with the retrospective effect from January 1, 2006.

The forces are also seeking rectification of what they see as an "undermining" of status and lowering of pay-scales including grade pay of middle ranking officers from Captains to Brigadiers.

The Armed Forces in their case say that these officers have been equated with scales lower than civil service.

The Army is also seeking parity in status of Lt Generals of Corp Commanders rank with Director Generals of the Central Paramilitary Forces, as before.

The empowered Group of Secretaries has been set up by the Government to go into anomalies in the pay packages of Armed Forces personnel.

The Service Chiefs also pointed out to the empowered committee members that in certain cases of personnel below officer rank, specially in the rank of Subedar Majors, in the services were getting Rs 300 less than similar ranks in Paramilitary Forces.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister A K Antony, when asked about the discussions, said he was confident that anomalies pointed out by the Armed Forces would be rectified.(PTI)

When Amarnath Yatra brings smiles on locals

SRINAGAR, The Amarnath Yatra may be lapped up with devotion by tens of thousands of pilgrims each year but the big boost that the local economy gets in only two months in a year brings smiles on traders in Kashmir valley who eagerly wait for the pilgrimage season.

The two-month yatra to the holy cave shrine to have a glimpse of Shiva —one of the holy trinity— in the form of a Lingam that is formed naturally of an ice ‘stalagmite’ is expected to see nearly three lakh pilgrims from all over the country make the trek. It commences on June 18.

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has said it will extend all possible assistance to the business community of Kashmir valley during the pilgrimage to Amarnath situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of Lidder valley. The shrine is about 46 km from Pahalgam and 141 km from Srinagar.

"These two months mean much to our sustenance," said a member of a team from Ganeshbal Nunwan village which has been associated with the yatra from time immemorial.

The Himalayan pilgrimage which embodies the spirt of wander, adventure and spirituality has tremendous potential to improve Kashmir’s economy, Chief Executive Officer of SASB Arun Kumar told a delegation of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

The board will extend all possible assistance to the business community during the pilgrimage, he told the team led by its president Mubin Shah yesterday.

A total of 2,86,680 pilgrims would be registered for the yatra out of which 2,73,720 pilgrims would be from outside the State, said an official of Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

Over 1,700 pilgrims from across the country have already registered since the process commenced on May 2 in 80 branches of J and K Bank.

The registration will end on July 13.

The J and K Bank would ensure trouble-free registration process at all counters across the country, an official said.

A registration fee of Rs 15 has been fixed while Rs 24 is charged by way of an insurance policy to the pilgrims.

In a memorandum presented to the CEO, the Kawshmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry raised issues relating to tapping the potential of yatra to improve economy, ecology and environment, registration of Amarnath pilgrims and helicopter services.

The management of housekeeping of prefabricated shelter huts in the Baltal camp and other sites has been entirely allotted to the locals. It may be mentioned that parking fees for vehicles has also yielded a lot of revenue with a local contractor getting a revenue of Rs 21 lakh last yea from a parking area in Baltal alone.

Similarly, the work of making prasad in various packs has also gone to a local resident which generated an income of Rs 61 lakh during the yatra last year, Kumar said.

It is also a God sent opportunity for porters who use mules to transport pilgrims to the holy cave and for labourers who maintain the track on both sides of the route of the trek. (PTI)