A delegation of Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra called on Director Tourism Jammu, Raj Kumar Katoch and apprised him about the negative impact on tourism due to restrictions, confusions and mismanagement at Lakhanpur. The delegation, led by the Association president Rakesh Wazir, requested the Director for doing efforts to ease the restrictions and streamline the things at the earliest so that J&K may not get wiped out from the Tourism map. Wazir said that situation at Lakhanpur was that no inter- state bus is allowed to enter J&K and the people taking buses from different parts of country are de boarded at Lakhanpur and are then made to wait for hours and hours together and then are forced to take other vehicles from Lakhanpur to reach Jammu from where they take buses to Katra and other Tourist places but again are deboarded at entry point of Katra. “While other competitive States are welcoming the tourists and are totally packed with Tourists , we are still struggling to find Tourists and whosoever are coming are made to have an experience that they may tell others that no one may come over here,” he said. The delegation comprised of Association Chairman Shyam Lal Kesar, Sr Vice President Virender Kesar, Vice President Ajay Kotwal, Executive members Koushal Magotra, Sanjay Gupta, Mangal Singh and Virender Mattu. Shyam Lal Kesar emphasised that the matter of spending Rs 100 crores by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd under Swatch Iconic Place at Katra Vaishnodevi be expedited. Virender Kesar requested the Director for taking up the matter of common sewerage treatment at Katra with the concerned. Katoch listened to the delegation patiently and assured that items which pertain to him will be redressed soon and the points which pertain to higher ups and other departments will be taken up shortly so that Tourists may get facilitated and no inconvenience is caused to them.
