Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: Famous Sukrala Mata Shrine near Billawar in Kathua district is still awaiting initiation of development activities and reforms in the management affairs even after a Board has come into existence on the pattern of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Though the newly created Board has taken control of offerings at the temple, management of the shrine continues to be run by the Baridars as a result that ill practices like begging by minor girls and fleecing of pilgrims by some self styled priests in the temple premises are still going on unabated.
While delay in initiation of development activities is causing resentment among the locals and visiting pilgrims, the Board is awaiting nomination of three non ex-officio members for taking over full control of the shrine and its managements.
Situated on a small hill, at a distance of 12 kilometers from Billawar town in Kathua district, the historic Sukrala Mata temple is dedicated to Hindu Goddess Sukrala Devi.
It was constructed by a banished prince of Chamba, Madho Singh. This temple is also believed to be the holy abode of Goddess Mal Devi, who is considered as the reincarnation of another Hindu Goddess Sharda Devi. The temple is visited by hundreds of devotees daily resulting into offerings worth lakhs of rupees.
For development of this shrine and on the consistent demand of locals, a bill for constitution of the Board for Sukrala Mata and Bala Sundri was passed in last session of the State Legislature.
On April 25, a notification in this regard was issued following which the Board immediately took over control of the offerings in the temple. However, management affairs of the shrine remained with the Baridars and other people dealing with the same since years as the Board was not constituted fully.
The 11- members Board is headed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu as its Vice-Chairman and Director Tourism Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Kathua, SDM Billawar and Tehsildar Billawar as its ex-officio members. The Board also comprises three non ex-officio members, including two religious scholars of repute and a female social activist.
As the three non ex-officio members have not yet been nominated by the Government, the Board is not in a position to take control of management of the Shrine thus delaying initiation of developmental works there, sources explained the Excelsior.
When contacted, Director Tourism Soujanya Sharma informed that probable names were being scrutinized for submitting a panel to the Government for nomination of three persons as the Board members. “Since development of the Shrine and its adjoining area needs formulation of a Master Plan, the Board will discuss the same with Chief Town Planner once the non ex-officio members are nominated,” he added.
The Deputy Commissioner Kathua Jatinder Singh also said that the Board would take control of management of the shrine as soon as the ex-officio members are nominated by the Government.
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