Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 28: A Bill for the constitution of a Board on the pattern of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board, for the better management of Shri Chandi Mata Machail Dham ( Machail Yatra), for up-gradation of facilities for the holy pilgrimage and matter connected there with right from Bhaderwah enroute Machail via Pul Doda, Premnagar, Thathri, Kishtwar and Gulabgarh (Paddar) was introduced today in the Upper House of the Legislature despite opposition by the Government.
The Bill in the Legislative Council was introduced by the Congress member from Bhaderwah, Naresh Kumar Gupta. While introducing, LC Private Members’ Bill No. 3 of 2012, seeking constitution of Shrine Board for Machail Mata Shrine, Mr Gupta said that area is very remote, having tough terrain and pilgrims face lot of hardships in view of very limited facilities. Majority of the yatris have to remain dependent on the local population and in view of the hardships of the pilgrims, the constitution of the Board was must. He proposed that this Act may be called Jammu and Kashmir Shri Chandi Mata Machail Shrine Board Act and 30 % of the members of the Board shall be from Sarv Shakti Sevak Sanstha Machail Yatra Management which will be nominated by founder patron-in-chief Th Kulbir Singh Jamwal and rest 70 % by way of nomination by the Government/ Governor.
The Bill was supported by another Congress legislator Jugal Kishore Sharma who pointed out that after constitution of Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board, tremendous improvement has been witnessed in the facilities to the pilgrims at Katra. He grave credit to Dr Farooq Abdullah for it. He said then Shri Amarnath Shrine Board was constituted and things have started showing good results. He said thousands of pilgrims go to Machail Yatra in Paddar every year and the area lacks lot of facilities. Therefore, the constitution of a Board was must. Even a few NC members also appeared supportive and even asked to admit and send to the select committee.
Minister of State for Tourism, Housing and Urban Development N A Wani while opposing the Bill said that Government was seized of the matter. Several steps have been taken to enhance facilities at Paddar, Gulabgarh Atholi for the pilgrims. He said that a project worth Rs 5 crore under tourism has been taken up and moreover constitution of Board was not viable for this yatra. The Bill was put to vote by the Dy Chairman M Y Taing and was not opposed by NC or the PDP members and stood introduced in the House despite being opposed by the minister.
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