PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
In an attempt to put a curb on fake registrations, the Uttarakhand administration is planning to impose a registration fee on the online registration of the pilgrims for this year’s Char Dham Yatra. Following a demand in this regard, the State administration has set up a committee headed by additional commissioner Garhwal to determine the fee.
The committee will soon submit its recommendation to the government. The Garhwal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said that the final decision on the registration fee will be taken by the State government.
On Monday, a meeting of all the stakeholders was convened in Rishikesh under the chairmanship of Garhwal commissioner for the preparations for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra. In the meeting the stakeholders, particularly the hotel owners, raised the issue of imposing registration fee to weed out undesirable and non-serious pilgrims. They pointed out that in absence of any fee, people book hotel rooms on the basis of registration numbers but don’t turn up on the stipulated dates resulting in revenue losses for the hotel owners. In view of the stakeholders demand the Garhwal commissioner directed for the constitution of a committee to determine the registration fee.
After holding consultation with the experts and stakeholders the committee will take a decision on the registration fee. The fee will be such that there is no additional burden on the pilgrims visiting the State for the Yatra. It is learnt that initially the authorities are planning to impose a fee of only Rs 10 per person for the online Char Dham Yatra registration.
The Char Dham Yatra this year will commence on April 19 ( Akshaya Tritiya) with the opening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri. The portals of Kedarnath shrine will open on April 22 while that of Kedarnath will open on April 23.
The State government has started making preparations for a safe and convenient Char Dham Yatra for the pilgrims.
