Never ending suffering of Reasi’s rafting operators

Jammu: We are living in extraordinary times. Coronavirus has swept across the globe, ravaging anything and everything. We are faced with unfamiliar ‘lockdown’ situations for months together. Even though the curbs are being lifted and we begin returning to normalcy, some people in our Jammu division continue to live under dire circumstances –not caused due to pandemic outbreak but a result of certain bureaucratic forces beyond their control. Their suffering seems to be a never-ending nightmare.
Almost ten registered Adventure Tour Operators in Reasi, each of them having minimum of a dozen of people engaged with them for commercial White Water Rafting in river Chenab had registration and permission validity up to December 2019. Some of them applied for renewals in December 2019, and some in January 2020 in accordance with the Adventure Guidelines issued vide Govt. Order No. 51 of TSM of 2019 Dated 14/02/2019.
As per these guidelines, the inspection for first approval/renewal shall be conducted by the Regulatory Committee within a period of thirty working days from the receipt of complete application.
“However, it took not less than eight-nine months for registration renewals, of a few operators. Besides, these renewals were done by ‘offline’ mode when there exists an online system,” allege the rafting operators.
The aforesaid committee consists of - Assistant Director Tourism/Tourist Officer of Tourist Destination as the case may be (Chairman); Officer incharge Recreation/Adventure Wing (Member); SHO, Tourist Police of the area concerned (Member); 1 Volunteer/Expert from adventure activity to be nominated by Director Tourism Jammu/ Kashmir (Member).
Here, the matter pertains to the jurisdiction of Assistant Director Tourism Katra.
The concerned official, vide communication No. ADTK/Reg./264- 65 dated 09/102/020, recommended six number of cases - M/S Reasi Travels Pvt. Ltd; M/S Highlander Adventure & Sports Tour Operator; M/S High Altitude Adventure School; M/S White World Expedition; M/S JK Adventure; M/S Raina Adventures & Sports Tour Operator - for granting permissions for River Rafting at Baradari, Reasi (on Commercial lines).
“While we are still waiting for the permission renewals to commercially resume rafting for tourists, we have learnt that the Director Tourism Jammu has written to Secretary Tourism, Government of J&K, that the said stretch at Baradari, Reasi has not been notified for the adventure activity by the department and as such, commercial permissions cannot be issued,” they say.
In the official letter (DTJ/ADV/PS/2423 -25, Dated 21-10-2020) accessed by The News Now, RK Katoch KAS, Director Tourism Jammu, writes, “Though the expert from the National Institute of Water Sports, Goa in their report, submitted in the year 2011 has recommended the said stretch of river Chenab at Baradari is suitable for river rafting but till date, the same has not been notified for the activity by the Department which is mandatory. Secondly, since the land has not been transferred in favour of the Tourism Department and in absence of any rights over the said area, it shall not be possible to issue Commercial permissions in absence of its being notified for the purpose. Thirdly, issuance of Commercial permission to all such registered Adventure agencies at Baradari, Reasi without following due tendering/outsourcing procedure shall amount to loss to the UT exchequer and shall be in violation of norms.”
The same letter also mentions, “This Directorate is regularly conducting National White-Water River Rafting Championships from the year 2013 onwards as the site has been recommended for Rafting by National Institute of Water Sports, Goa in its report submitted to this Directorate vide letter no. 800/Study/161/ 11 dated 13/05/2011/. The private players registered with Tourism Department as Adventure Tour Operators are also conducting Commercial Rafting at Baradari, Reasi. Further, the said location at Baradari, Reasi is also being taken up for development of infrastructure for Adventure Sports Activities at an estimated cost of Rs.10.38 Crore for which 69 Kanals of land is in the final stage of transfer in favour of the Department with the Office of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu for which the indent stands placed by this Directorate already.”
The rafting operators are surprised at the flow of communication occurring in their case. “ADT heads the Regulatory Committee. Director Tourism heads the Advisory committee. And look here, to whom they are writing to!” they say.
Already hobbled by restrictions that followed abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, they took up loans to apply for renewals of registrations and permissions, relying on the tourism potential of the region, especially when White Water Rafting is one of the prime activities. And then COVID19 happened.
“Hundreds of families depend on rafting and tourism. We had hoped for better governance post 370, but sadly, we are forced to the verge of bankruptcy. We haven’t even received financial assistance as promised by the LG administration,” they rue.
Notably, Baradari has witnessed five national level rafting championships organized by Jammu Tourism Department, according to rafting operators. The last event held was in May 2019, which was conducted by District Administration Reasi in association with J&K Bank.