Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 13: A delegation of Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra (HRAK), led by its president Rakesh Wazir, called on Principal Secretary Power Rohit Kansal and apprised him various points related to Katra, Tourism and Hotel Industry in particular.
Wazir said that despite declaring Hotels Industry as Industry and covering the same under Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), hotels were being charged for power at commercial rates.
“Even as hotels availed this benefit of Industry status for one year till March 31, 2019, but thereafter the Hotels are again been charged at commercial rates which are higher,” he said and requested that the matter be taken up with the concerned including Electricity Regularity Authority and Government and this pending issue be resolved and hotel may get power at Industrial rates again.
The delegation comprised of HRAK Chairman Shyam Lal Kesar, former president Shiv Kumar Sharma, Sr vice president Virender Kesar, vice president Ajay Kotwal and others.
Kesar requested that Katra’s planning should be done with underground wiring and beautiful docorational poles and lights as has been done in Darbar Sahib recently so that pilgrims coming over here may take home a good feeling and message.
Shiv Kumar Sharma and Virender Kesar requested for further increase in the Amnesty Scheme by few months and said that this scheme was really good but people were finding difficulty in giving that amount even after deduction of interests and penalties because all the works were stopped due to COVID and people have no money to pay.
Kansal listened to the delegation patiently and assured that sympathetic consideration to each and every point would be given.
The delegation also informed Kansal that the old traditional route of Vaishno Devi ji, sanctioned by him through Central Road Fund when he was Principal Secretary Public Works Department (PWR&B) and Parvez Dewan was Advisor concerned, was almost complete and would be started shortly. Revival of this route will reduce the distance between Katra and Akhnoor, Poonch, Rajouri belt by 42 kms.
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