Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 11: A delegation of Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra met Commissioner cum Secretary Tourism Sarmad Hafeez and apprised him about the issues pertaining to tourism.
The delegation comprised of the Association president Rakesh Wazir, chairman Shyam Lal Kesar, former president Shiv Kumar Sharma and Sr vice president Virender Kesar while Director Tourism, Jammu Raj Kumar Katoch, Additional Secretary Tourism Naresh Kumar, Deputy Secretary Tourism Wasim Raja, Asstt Director Tourism Katra Ambika Bali were also present on the occasion.
Wazir emphasized for free flow of Yatra with removal of Lakhanpur restrictions and early start of trains and inter-state buses. He requested for well planned utilization of funds under scheme PRASAD and emphasized that its planning be done in such a way that by utilizing of that 50 crore the stay of yatries may increase.
He further said that rotation of 10 million coming pilgrims to other places of UT and increasing the stay of Yatries should be our focus so that pilgrims may visit the places of tourist interest around Katra, including Shiv Khori ,Nau Devian, Dhansar, Siar Baba near Katra, Patnitop, Bhaderwah, various tourist places of Kashmir etc.
Wazir emphasized for one time registration of hotels on the pattern of industry with no yearly renewals and likewise asked for removal of the confusion wherein J&K Pollution Control Board is asking for first tourism registration while Tourism Department is asking for first NOC from J&K Pollution Control Board. He requested that Tourism Department may do registrations as was previously done without waiting for NOC/s from JKPCB.
Shyam Lal Kesar asked for re-imbursement of GST and Power tariff to Hotels Industry at par with industry. He also demanded Common Sewerage Treatment plant for whole Katra town.
Shiv Kumar Sharma emphasized for early start of 10 crore separate water supply scheme for Katra which was already sanctioned. He also requested for early start of light and sound show at Katra on the history of Maa Vaishno Devi ji.
Virender Kesar requested for starting of 4G net service especially right from Lakhanpur to Vaishno Devi for the convenience of pilgrims.
Sarmad Hafeez listened to the delegation patiently and gave on spot instructions for redressal of most of the points and assured that sympathetic consideration to rest of the points would be made.
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