Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, July 26: Congress activists along with locals of the town held strong protest demonstration at Dabbar Chowk Udhampur against the decision of District Administration Kishtwar and on Helicopter service operators to enhance ticket rates at their own and putting more burden on Machail Mata pilgrims by taking unfair and unjustified decision.
Demonstrators were raising slogan against Government headed by Governor and also Kishtwar District Administration. While addressing the demonstrators and interacting with media persons Congress leader Sumeet Mangotra disclosed that to provide Helicopter service to the devotees of Machail Yatra by concerned authorities of J&K State have given permission to Heritage Aviation Pvt. Ltd. Company and Aryan Company but just before beginning of Machail Yatra Heritage Aviation Pvt. Ltd. Company has issued two notifications for information to the general public that company will charge Rs 100 per Kg of more than 80 Kg weight passengers and in 2nd notification they informed the public that company will charged Rs 150 per Kg of more than 80 Kg weight passenger.
Magotra further expressed that the notifications released by the company are totally in violation of the Civil Aviation Department’s rules and regulations and these notifications are like “Nadirshahi Farman”. He warned the Govt to take cognizance of the matter and with draw this rule. He said that this whole episode is becoming doubtful and apprehensions of corruption in for providing permission of business.
Magotra further disclosed that at present helicopter service is also going on Katra for Mata Vaishnoo Devi pilgrims and in Pahalgam for Shri Amarnath yatris and in both places their parameters of charges are different they are not charging the fare from devotees on their weight bases moreover in whole country there is no provision to charge fare of air services on weight bases he added.
Interestingly on the plea of security cover at helipads the Yatra ticket rate has also been increased and instead of Rs 2270 per ticket, the Heli companies are charging Rs 2300 from the pilgrims. This is another big fraud. He warned state wide agitation and said the Governor Administration should stop imposing `Zajia’ on the pilgrims or get ready to face consequences.
Magotra also said that on the one hand Governor of the State is taking necessary measures to remove corruption from the State but on the other hand corruption is increasing day by day even in Governor’s rule. He criticize BJP leadership of J&K State to keep silence over this sensitive and serious issue.
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