Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 30: The District Administration Anantnag today took a slew of measures to regulate the influx of people to the tourist resort Pahalgam which it said poses dangers of a resurgence of the COVID-19 because of possible violations of COVID appropriate behaviour.
The Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag in an order said that the Sub-Divisional Magistrate has reported that unrestricted and unabated influx of tourists and day picnickers to Pahalgam may seriously undermine Covid-19 mitigation efforts put in place by the administration.
“It has been also observed that a large number of tourists are pitching tents in an unregulated manner at several places in the meadows of Pahalgam tourist resort, thereby posing a plausible danger to fragile eco-system of the tourist place,” the DM said.
The DM said that to prevent the spread of covid-19 infection and save the eco-system of the tourist destination, it is necessary to take some immediate measures.
The DM ordered that on Saturday and Sunday, only such persons/tourists shall be allowed to proceed towards Pahalgam who possess proof of confirmed booking in the hotels of Pahalgam, no day-picnickers shall be allowed to visit Pahalgam on Saturday and Sunday.
“SDPO Aishrnuqam/ Srigufwara shall establish nakas at Aishmuqam, Langanbal, Nunwan and Srigufwara to allow only bonafide people with proof of advance hotel booking to move towards Pahalgam,” the order said.
The DM said that the CEO, Tourism Development Authority, Pahalgam shall sensitize the hoteliers in advance in this regard.
SSP Anantnag shall work out the modalities for restraining the influx of traffic at various Nakaas in Anantnag town en route to Pahalgam so that unnecessary build-up of vehicles at Pahalgam can be discouraged, the DM said.
“Tehsildar Pahalgam and Assistant Director, Tourism Pahalgam shall carry out a detailed inspection of all the hotels of Pahalgam to check whether all measures for ensuring Covid appropriate behaviour have been put in place,” the DM ordered.
Also, the DM has directed a fine of Rs.1000 shall be imposed and collected from locals/tourists/hotel staff, if found roaming without masks at Pahalgam.
” CEO PDA, SDM Pahalgam, SDPO, and EO MC Pahalgam shall constitute teams independently to strictly enforce covid appropriate behaviour especially at Public places, parks, open spaces, hotel areas etc,” the order read.
The DM said that since all the public parks have been opened for all seven days, as such, the concerned departments shall ensure that no person shall be allowed to enter any park without a mask.
About unregulated pitching of tents, the DM said that it not only poses danger to the fragile ecosystem of Pahalgam but also put a lot of pressure on civic amenities besides leading to haphazard parking at various places.
“CEO PDA shall explore the possibility of declaring a particular area as a camping site and shall also work out the mechanism of permitting to pitch tents at such places with prior permission,” the order issued said.
Also all unregulated haphazardly pitched tents shall immediately be removed, while the DFO Lidder Forest Division and DFO Wildlife directed to constitute teams to restrain the public from pitching tents in forest/wildlife areas.
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