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| SOPs, new guidelines for Yatra under new rules are being prepared : CEO SMVDSB | |
Katra,May 17 (Scoop News)- While speaking in a programme organised by Jammu Region Chapter of PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry through Video Conference on “ Way Forward For Tourism & Shri Vaishnodevi Yatra Post Covid-19” Ramesh Kumar,Chief Executive Officer SMVD Shrine Board said that organising of this Video Conference is good initiative of PHDCCI and said that though Yatra will start only when directions from Home Ministry will come but preprations on our side should be complete keeping in view the new guideline/ruless issued with respect to Covid-19 and Shrine Board is in the process of formulating SOPs for the resumption of the yatra once the lockdown is lifted. He said regulating the movement, once public transport systems were operationalised, is a challenging proposition. The Board was, therefore, considering to undertake online registration of devotees, he said, adding that GPS-enabled systems were being actively under consideration to track pilgrims in real-time to ensure they adhered to social distancing measures while trekking to the Temple from Katra.He said that they are considering installing of Door-mounted thermal scanning at multiple places enroute Bhawan likewise the bed capacity at free dormitories is being reduced temporarily to implement social distancing measures.He added that only family members, and not unrelated people, were going to be permitted to use the paid lodging to reduce the chances of the spread of the infection. The seating capacities at bhojanalaya (food court) and langars were being reduced, and devotees were going to be given coupons with specific time slots to manage the crowds better, were other suggestions being considered, he said.
The lack of clarity on whether animals could spread the disease was yet another challenge before pressing in the ponies for ferrying pilgrims, he added.
Parvez Dewan, Former Advisor to J&K Governor & Former Secretary Tourism,Govt. of India, K.B.Kachru, Member Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board & Chairman Emeritus South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, ),PHDCCI (National) Vice President Pardeep Multani,Former (National) President PHDCCI Anil Khaitan, Ajay K Bakaya, Managing Director,Sarover Hotel & Resorts,Garish Oberoi, Former President,Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Association of India,Sujit Kumar Singh,DIG, Reasi-Katra-Udhampur Range Navin Berry,Chief Editor Destination India Magzine & BITB Conclaves(Founder SATTE) Director MallikaVerma,PHDCCI ‘s Jammu Region Chapter Chairman RakeshWazir, Co-Chairman Rahul Sahai, Former Chairman Vikrant Kuthiala,Kashmir Region Mentor Mushtaq Chaya,Former Co-Chairman Jammu KuldeepGupta,Chairman HRAK Sham LalKesar,President,PHDCCI Convenor (Head)Reasi District VarinderKesar,Convenor (Head) Patnitop Kushal Magotra,Press Club Katra President Rakesh Sharma,Gen.Secretary Arun Kumar,Director Radisson Blue Jammu,Vikram Gupta,Director Ramada Jammu Siddhant Chowdhary,Amit Kumar etc.were also present.
Rakesh Wazir while starting the introductory session besides welcoming the Central leadership who had joined especially to Welcome the dignitaries said that the basic purpose of holding this Video Conference is to give proper feed back and suggestions to SMVDSB and said that pilgrims of Vaishnodevi ji contribute vigorously towards economy of not only J&K but adjoining states as well like Himachal Pardesh,Punjab ,Haryana etc. He said that 4 lac to 5 lac people are employed from Katra to Bhawan directly or indirectly and have become un employed due to this Lock down and a daily loss of INR 10-12 crores per day, which amounted to INR 700 crores in the past two months. The losses were not only limited to the local region but had also impacted businesses at several destinations in J&K and adjoining states which were usually part of the tourist/pilgrim itinerary.
Pradeep Multani, while delivering his welcome address said that as we all are aware that the various religious places and tourist spots, hotels and restaurants are shut due to the Pandemic and hope that soon an antidote or vaccination will be developed for the virus. But we must learn to live with Carona Virus, prepare ourselves for the new emerging global order which will be dominated by distancing , safety and hygiene issues and as travel and gatherings are banned, the travel and tourism sector is the biggest sufferer. Major destinations, be it for recreation and leisure in the hills or the sea side beaches, serene tea gardens or religious places – all are closed and as a result the business and economic activities that were carried out in and around these tourist and religious places have come to a grinding halt and as a result even major Shrines like Shri Tirupati Balaji had to retrench employees in thousands thus need of the hour is to equip ourselves for challenges which are expected to be faced with regard to Tourism & Shri Vaishnodevi Yatra well in advance and may be able to revive our Tourism vis-a vis economy once again.
Mr.Parvez Dewan while speaking on the occasion suggested for reduction in quota of Yatra to 33% for initial few months. He further suggested for maintaining social distancing, a 30 min slot on the Yatra slip ,in the initial stages (post lock down) restricting the yatra to the some of our neighboring states like Punjab , Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and later on when situation improves other states started.He suggested that as we have 3 routes for this pilgrimage and to ensure proper social distancing the Yatra be regulated for going on one track and for coming on another.He Further suggested that inside the Holy cave we need to have cubical flexi glass which may ensures the proper hygine and proper social distancing and which will also help in stopping the transmission of this deadly virus.
K. B. Kachru while speaking during this webinar said that the inbound tourism has come to a halt with India under Lockdown and suggested that any plan of re-opening must be done keeping long term benefits and safety compliances in mind and for this we need to do ground level work to evaluate the things to get survive out from this unwilling pandemic situation.He further stated that as Tourism and hospitality sector is struggling for its survival we also need to look out about the other sources of revenue. He also said that around Katra Town there are many places of intrests which are un developed and once we are able to develop those attaching areas it will help to boost tourism in J&K state.
Sujit K Singh while speaking on this occasion said that Police Department is always ready for any type of cooperation and would jointly work with Shrine Board and Authorities in making of these SOPs ,guide lines so that those are implemented on ground perfectly. He suggested that initially only on line registration of Yatra should be started especially from areas which are falling In a green zones of the country and gradually should move to other areas .He suggested that proper sanitizing tunnels needs to be installed at Ban Ganga which might be a starting point for the yatra to Holy cave Of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi and this will help to prevent the spread of virus from one infected person to another.He also urged the Hoteliers during this occasion to cooperate with the Police department for proper verifications of the employees who have returned back from their home towns to work at Katra Post Lock Down.
Ajay K. Bakaya while speaking on the occasion said that faith did not believe in reason, and, therefore, a judicious infusion of practical measures was essential to guarantee the safety of pilgrims, said The entire spectrum of services involved in the yatra needed to communicate the requisite measures, whether hotels, trains, shops, or others, he explained.He referred to the suggestion made by other panellists around capping the visitor count, arguing that the intricacies of the decision on whom to permit and whom not to, and the decision-making process, needed to be conveyed to the populace. He noted that the Shrine Board could divert some resources to create an app with real-time information on all such details to keep people well-informed on the developments. Educating the people was equally critical as capping the numbers, he argued.
Bakaya also suggested maintaining a balance between saving lives and livelihoods, at least, for the next six months. "If we can follow this, we have a good chance of surviving this disruption," he said. He further noted that a foot-operated hand-sanitising machine was a cheaper, safer and practical equipment, and could be installed on the premises.
Navin Berry while speaking on the occasion said that that SOPs were to bring clarity on the preference order in which the devotees were to be allowed at the Temple, and asked for putting of Aarogya Setu on every Pitthu & Pony. he said, adding that it was a tremendous opportunity to digitise the entire yatra, making it contact-free and imbibing the parchi into a smartcard. He suggested utilising this crisis to create the desired infrastructure and systems to provide a world-class experience for visitors. Creating infrastructure across price points, and inviting more branded accommodation could be worth pursuing at Katra, and also the yatra.
Anil Khaitan,while speaking on this occasion stated that while facing this pandemic we need to revive the economy and as fas as tourism is concerned, in our Country more than 50 % tourism is domestic tourism.He further stated that Katra has a vast infrastructure like Super Speciality Hospital,good Railway Station,Hotels etc. and this infrastructure is required to be used efficiently and suggested that if we could make use of those Hotel Rooms for other purposes on payable basis,it would be good.
He further stated that for revivng the Pilgrimage tourism we need to build up confidence and this can be done by doing these practices. He further stated that connectivity to country will play a major role for reviving this Pilgrimage Tourism.
Shyam Lal Kesar, Mushtaq Chaya, Vikrant Kuthiala & Rakesh Sharma while speaking on this occasion stated that Mata Vaishnodevi Yatra will start sooner or later but in the foreseeable future this yatra foot fall is going to be drastically reduced from the previous.. As economy of our state depends upon pilgrimage tourism in our state they suggested that during this struggle for the survival time we need to widely spread pilgrimage tourism by diversifying and creating a circuit of dedicated pilgrimage and other destinations which will create an asset for all time and also help in increasing foot fall of the pilgrimage tourists post lock down.They also raised the issue of losses to Tourism sector which have happened in the recent past.
Rahul Sahai Co-Chair Jammu Region Chapter while presenting vote of thanks said that Jammu & kashmir has been bestowed more with natural beauty than it's being an industrial hub. It is for us to tap whatsoever natural resources and make this place tourist friendly and thereby economically viable for its residents. All of us here from the commercial world will strive to make this place truly a heaven here on earth. We have here religious tourism as well as rich flora and fauna to showcase to the world by the blessings of Mata Vaishno devi ji so that we may have both home and international tourism coming here and continue our struggle for that.
Mallika Arora Director PHDCCI moderated the Video Conference in a magnificient way.
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