Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Oct 29: Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra convened an emergency meeting here today to discuss the alleged irregularities being made by the Contractor at Ban Toll Plaza and especially with regard to total ransom of Highway at this point on the basis of muscle power.
It was apprised in the meeting that despite National Highway Authority of India rules that residents of the area within 20 kms be provided with local passes, the new contractor of Ban Toll Plaza has cancelled all the passes issued to Katra people residing within the prescribed area and identified by the Deputy Commissioner of Reasi, who is the authority for the same.
“Whenever this Contractor got the contract of Ban Toll Plaza, he tried to create similar problem but all the times National Highway Authorities intervened and got the matter resolved. And now when he got the contract once again a few months back, he has resorted to similar irregularities and all of a sudden stopped renewing the passes of the areas falling within 20 kms, especially of Katra and surrounding areas which are there in the list provided by DCs,” said the Association members alleging use of muscle power by the Contractor.
Quoting previous letters of then Project Directors, the Association said that the present contractor was willful offender in violating the norms for monetary gains which was a very serious matter. “If this is not stopped it will lead to major law & order problem and its total responsibility will lie on the Toll Post people and people connected with this whole system,” Association warned and sought stern action against the Contractor besides renewal and issuance of local passes.
The meeting was attended by HRAK President Rakesh Wazir, Chairman Shyam Lal Kesar, Sr Vice President Virender Kesar, Ravi Nag, Vice President Nishant Sharma, Executive member & President SMVD Press Club Katra Arun Sharma, Gen Secretary Press Club Katra Rakesh Sharma, Mangal Singh, Secretary HRAK, Mangal Singh Sarpanch, Ashish Kumar, Bharat Bhushan, Vivek Sharma, Amrik Singh and others.
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