Jammu 13 November (KNB): A delegation of Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra (HRAK) led by it’s President Rakesh Wazir, accompanied by HRAK Chairman Shyam lal Kesar, Former President Shiv Kumar Sharma, Sr. Vice President Virender Kesar, Vice President Ajay Kotwal and other members met Principal Secretary Power Rohit Kansal to put forth the issue of higher power rates being charged to Hotels.
During the meeting, Rakesh Wazir said that the Hotels have been declared as Industry and is even covered under Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises( MSME) and keeping that aspect in mind it was passed in the budget that Hotels will get Power at par with Industrial rates and hoteliers availed that benefit even for one year and was operational till 31st March 2019.
He added, but thereafter the Hotels are again been charged at commercial rates which are higher and requested that matter be taken up with the concerned authority including Electricity Regularity Authority and government, so that this issue be resolved and hotels may get power at Industrial rates again.
Further during the meeting, Virendar Kesar said that Katra is a famous town and caters 10 million pilgrims every year while its radius is not more than 1 to 2 Km.
Adding that its planning should be done with under ground wiring with quality poles and lights as has been done in Darbar Sahib recently so that visiting pilgrims may return with good feeling.
During the Meeting, Shiv Kumar Sharma & Virender Kesar requested for further increase in the Amnesty Scheme by few months and said that this scheme is beneficial but people are finding difficulty in giving the amount even after deduction of interests and penalties because all the work has been put to halt due to the pandemic situation and people have insufficiant money to pay.
The Principal Power Secretary Rohit Kansal listened the delegation patiently and assured that sympathetic consideration to each and every point would be given.
The delegation also thanked him for getting sanctioned Rs 18 crore through Central Road Fund–during his tenure as the principal Secretary Public Works Department (PWR&B) while Parvez Dewan was the concerned Advisor–for Old Traditional Route Of Vaishnodevi and revival of old Vaishnodevi route due to which the distance between Katra to Akhnoor, Poonch, Rajouri belt will reduce by 42 Kms and various other points related to Katra, Tourism and Hotel Industry in particular. (KNB)