Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 9: Several important issues pertaining to the extension of more facilities to the millions of pilgrims visiting the cave shrine of Shiv Khori in Reasi district have been pending for approval during the past several months as Government has not woken up from the deep slumber over the appointment of new members of Shiv Khori Shrine Board.
These vital issues include start of regular chopper service to the cave shrine on the analogy of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine and creation of adequate wayside amenities for the pilgrims, whose number is increasing with every passing year.
As per the Act, the Board has eight members—three official and five non-official besides Divisional Commissioner, Jammu as its Chairman. The term of non-official members is three years while as the official members are Deputy Commissioner or Additional Deputy Commissioner Reasi (Vice-Chairman of the Board), Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board and Director Tourism.
Two persons, who in the opinion of the Government have distinguished themselves in the services of Hindu religion and culture; two persons, who have distinguished themselves in the administration, legal affairs and financial matters and a woman, who has played distinguished role on the issues pertaining to womenfolk can be the non-official members of the Board.
The term of five non-official members of the Board namely S M Sahni, former Director Tourism, Seema Shekhar Khajuria, Additional Advocate General, M L Sharma, retired Chief Accounts Officer, retired bureaucrat Swami Raj Sharma and former Bar Association president, B S Slathia, who were appointed in the year 2011, came to an end on February 14, 2014.
However, no effort has been made to appoint new non-official members of the Board during the past nearly three months despite the fact that under Section 13 of the Act the Board cannot transact any business unless at least five members are present in a meeting, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
“Due to the failure of the Government to appoint new non-official members, no meeting of the Board could be convened till date as a result of which several important matters pertaining to extension of more facilities to the millions of pilgrims visiting this cave shrine have been pending for approval”, they said.
Even those agenda items, which could not be taken up due to heated exchanges between some officials and a member of the Board in its last meeting held on February 1, have been pending till date, sources informed. “Since there are only four official members of the Board including Chairman no decision on any issue is possible in the absence of non-official members”, they said, adding “though MLA Reasi remains special invitee in the Board meeting yet he doesn’t enjoy any right to vote in favour of any decision”.
They said that regular chopper service to the cave shrine of Shiv Khori on the pattern of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine is the major issue pending for Board approval. “The helipad is ready in all respects but the same cannot be put to use unless a culvert is constructed on the approach road”, sources said while disclosing that the construction of culvert is required to get Board’s approval as expenditure of Rs 12 lakh is involved in the same.
Moreover, it is only the Board which has to finalize the modalities for the start of chopper service by holding proper discussion with the aviation companies. Another major issue, which requires Board’s consent pertains to rules and regulations governing appointment, promotion and other issues of the Board’s employees.
The creation of adequate wayside amenities at five locations, construction of two bridges and start of sanitary works are among the other issues, which need approval of the Board, sources said.
When contacted, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Shantmanu, who is also the Chairman of Shiv Khori Shrine Board, said, “I have recommended the names of the non-official members to the Tourism Department and the file was submitted on the last day of Darbar Move”, adding “the new members would be appointed after the Tourism Department clears the names”.
However, reliable sources in the Tourism Department said that no such file was submitted by the Chairman of the Shrine Board.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Board for Shiv Khori Shrine located in village Ransoo of Pouni block in Reasi district was constituted in the year 2008 when the State Legislature enacted J&K Shiv Khori Shrine Board Act on the pattern of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board in order to ensure proper management of the shrine and extend better facilities to the pilgrims.
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