Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Nov 10: The Shrine Board for Mata Sukrala and Bala Sundri will formally take over tomorrow the management, administration and governance of these two historic shrines in Billawar area of Kathua district.
The newly constituted Board, headed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, will convene its maiden meeting after ceremonial Havan and Pooja at Sukrala Mata shrine on Monday morning to mark the occasion, official sources informed the Excelsior.
In the first ever meeting, the Board members will discuss the future planning for development and security of the two shrines, increasing facilities to the visiting pilgrims, best possible utilization of donations, addressing the issues of locals and taking all the stakeholders along for overall development of the area, sources added.
Besides, sources further said, a decision on opening the sealed donation boxes containing offerings worth lakhs of rupees is also likely to be taken by the Board members during their meeting tomorrow. These donation boxes were sealed immediately after passage of an Act for constitution of the Board during the last budget session of State Assembly.
It may be recalled that following passing of an Act for constitution of Mata Sukrala Devi and Mata Bala Sundri Shrine Board on the pattern of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, the Government had formally constituted the Board and issued an SRO in this regard last month.
Headed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, the board comprises Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Additional CEO of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Director Tourism Jammu and SDM Billawar as ex-officio members. Renowned scholar Pawan Shastri, Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Neelam Vaid, Dr Narinder Vaid and Sham Lal Gupta are non-official members of the Board.
The formal taking over of the management of these two historic shrines by the Board assumes significance for development of these historic pilgrim sites, which are visited by lakhs of devotees from Jammu as well as neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
According to the sources, Minister of State for Cooperative, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, who is also local MLA, and some prominent citizens of the area are also likely to participate in the scheduled two-hour long Havan and Pooja at Sukrala Mata shrine.
After Pooja, all members of the Board, will meet at Billawar Guest House for discussing the issues related to these two shrines, their management affairs, style of functioning, Master Plan for developing these pilgrim sites, their surroundings, rehabilitation of affected people etc.
Compensation for settlement of Baridars in the shrines will be discussed in the meeting by Board members who are also likely to meet the locals soliciting their suggestions and taking them into confidence for management as well as development of the pilgrim sites, sources said.
“More facilities to the visiting pilgrims, overall development of the shrines and their security are priorities of the Board,” said Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, who reached Billawar today for assessing the takeover arrangements.
The MoS Cooperative, Dr Manohar Lal told the Excelsior that all stakeholders will be taken along. “Issues of locals will be addressed and their participation will be ensured for overall development of the shrines, their surroundings, and facilities to the visiting pilgrims” he added.
Situated on a small hill, at a distance of 12 kilometers from Billawar town in Kathua district, the historic Sukrala Mata temple was constructed by Chamba king, Madho Singh. The shrine is visited by hundreds of devotees daily resulting into offerings worth lakhs of rupees.
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