Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Oct 6: Even after months since passage of the Bill by State Legislature and approval of the Governor, the much talked about Sukrala Mata and Bala Sundri Shrine Board has yet to formally come into existence as the concerned Government departments are moving the affairs on snail’s pace.
After much delay on part of the Tourism Department in submitting a panel of the non ex-officio members, the Law Department is now sitting over the file for its vetting thus holding up issuance of the required SRO regarding formation of the Board, official sources informed the Excelsior.
As a result, all developmental work on these two religious places in Billawar area of Kathua district are put on hold while the offering money is piling up in the donation boxes, which have been sealed by the Government authorities ever since issuance of a notification on the Board.
Pertinent to mention here that for development of these two shrines and on the consistent demand of locals, a bill for constitution of the Board for Sukrala Mata and Bala Sundri on the pattern of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was passed in last session of the State Legislature and thereafter Governor also gave his approval for the same.
On April 25, a notification in this regard was issued but the authorities did not take control of management of these shrines as the 11-member Board was not constituted fully owing to pending nomination of five non ex-officio members.
Headed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu as its Vice-Chairman, the Board has six ex-officio members, including Director Tourism Jammu, Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Additional CEO Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, SDM Billawar and Tehsildar Billawar.
According to the sources, the panel of five non ex-officio members was recommended in August by the Director Tourism Jammu, Soujanaya Sharma in consultation with the Divisional Commissioner Jammu. The panel, comprising two religious scholars, a female social activist, one person of administrative background and one media person has been approved by the Commissioner Secretary Tourism and now the file is pending with the Law Department for its clearance, sources added.
Minister of State for Cooperative (Independent Charge), Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, who was instrumental in pursuing the Shrine Board Bill, also admitted delay on part of the Government in getting the Board fully constituted for taking over control of the management and development of these two religious shrines.
“I have taken up the matter with the Law Minister for early vetting of the non ex-officio members so that SRO on Shri Mata Sukrala Devi and Bala Sundri Board is issued as soon as possible,” he told the Excelsior adding that a Master Plan would be formulated for development of these religious places and work in this regard will commence immediately after constitution of the Board.
Sources informed that security of the donation boxes, which were sealed by the Tehsildar Billawar immediately after issuance of Gazzetted notification on the Shrine Board, is another concern of the Government administration. Once the Board is constituted, these sealed boxes will be opened for utilization of the donation money in development of these shrines, said a senior officer in the district administration.
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