Himachal govt puts on hold entry fee at Churdhar wildlife sanctuary
A controversy had erupted earlier this month, with locals alleging that the 'user charge' was imposed by the state government on people going to the Churdhar valley where there is an ancient temple.
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had termed it as a 'fee on religious pilgrimage'.
Officials had maintained that the user charge was imposed only on trekkers visiting the Churdhar wildlife sanctuary. People going to the Shirgul Maharaj temple has to pass through some portions of the sanctuary.
In an order issued on Tuesday, deputy conservator of forests, Shimla Wildlife Division said, 'It has been decided to keep in abeyance the order regarding collection of charges in view of numerous representations received from various stakeholders including religious organisations, local residents and citizens in this regard.'
The officer said the decision to impose the user charges was taken to address environmental and sanitation concerns but it has come to light that the order has raised apprehensions among devotees and local people regarding accessibility to Churdhar temple, a significant religious site located in the sanctuary.
Therefore, the order shall remain suspended till a comprehensive model is developed that considers exemptions for religious pilgrims and establishes a fair and transparent charging mechanism for other users, the officer said.
Earlier, the Hatti Samiti, the principal organisation of more than three lakh Hattis living in Trans Giri area of Sirmaur had opposed the entry fee from devotees coming from other states to visit the ancient temple of Lord Shrigul Devta situated on the top of Churdhar peak.
In a letter addressed to chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Samiti had demanded that entry fees should not be taken from the devotees.
According to the fixed slabs, Himachal residents had to pay ₹20 per person, non-Himachalis ₹50 and foreigners will be charged ₹200.
The officials said trekkers, hikers and campers had to pay ₹50 to ₹100. The charges were set at ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per day for movie and documentary shoots, ₹3,000 per day for wedding shoots, ₹200, ₹300 and ₹400 for tenting (Indian citizens), ₹500 per tent per day for foreign citizens and ₹100 for travelling by mule and horse.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
9 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Today in Politics: PM Modi to address NDA parliamentary party meeting; state mourning in Jharkhand after Shibu Soren's death
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a meeting of the BJP-led NDA's parliamentary party meeting. The NDA meeting comes just days before the filing of nominations for the Vice-President's election on August 7. After the Monsoon Session ends on August 21, the election will be held on September 9. The meeting comes in the middle of a session that has been all but a washout so far, except for a two-day discussion on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, due to a united Opposition's ceaseless protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar by the Election Commission. Modi is expected to speak on a host of current issues as the Opposition has been raising the heat over the poll body's alleged partisan conduct favouring the government, and the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The meeting also comes amid rumours that the Centre may reinstate Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. Tuesday will mark six years since the abrogation of Article 370 with the J&K Congress observing it as a 'black day' and sitting on a dharna to press for the restoration of statehood. Meanwhile, the government is expected to push through some legislative business on Tuesday, amid the Opposition's continuing protests, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. In the Lok Sabha, at least four Bills will be considered for passage – The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024; The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024; The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025; and The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025. In the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to move a resolution for the continuation of President's Rule in Manipur for another six months with effect on August 13. The Lok Sabha has already passed this resolution. The Upper House will also consider for passage The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025. The mortal remains of veteran tribal leader and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) patriarch Shibu Soren reached state capital Ranchi on Monday evening, with thousands of people waiting outside the airport and lining the streets to pay their final respects to the former CM, affectionately known as Dishom Guru. Soren, 81, who was undergoing treatment at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi for over a month for kidney-related problems, passed away on Monday morning. On Tuesday, his body will be taken to his native village Nemra in Ramgarh district, where his last rites will be performed there, JMM sources said. Among those expected to attend the funeral is Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, whose Congress party is a state- and national-level ally of the JMM. Recommended reading | Pivotal figure in Jharkhand movement, Shibu Soren had a storied career with fleeting stints in power To coincide with the Karnataka Congress's protest over alleged vote theft, the state BJP chief B Y Vijayendra had announced their own protest against the Congress's 'anti-constitutional attitude'. While the Congress's protest, which was set to be led by Rahul Gandhi, has been postponed to August 8 on account of Shibu Soren's death, the BJP is now set to continue its protest in Bengaluru. Vijayendra alleged that the Congress was unable to 'digest Narendra Modi's leadership' at the Centre and that Gandhi was misguiding the people of Karnataka and India with his repeated allegations against the Election Commission. The Telangana Congress, meanwhile, is going ahead with its protest Presidential assent for the Backward Classes reservation bills passed by the state legislature. Party workers led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy are expected to participate in a three-day protest beginning on Tuesday. On Tuesday, party MPs will move an adjournment motion in Parliament to demand a debate on the BC quota Bills. On Wednesday, the CM, along with his Cabinet colleagues and other Congress leaders, will stage a dharna at Jantar Mantar. On Thursday, Reddy and other senior leaders will seek an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu to submit a memorandum regarding the pending Bills. – With PTI inputs
Hans India
11 minutes ago
- Hans India
Union Minister Varma celebrates birthday
Bhimavaram: Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Steel Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma's birthday was celebrated grandly at KS Raju Function Hall in Bhimavaram on Monday. West Godavari district unit of BJP organised this programme. The occasion saw the large-scale organisation of a blood donation drive, a free specialised medical camp, and a free eye camp, all inaugurated by Minister Srinivasa Varma. Activists and supporters from various parties actively participated in the event. BJP District President Ainampudi Sridevi noted that a large number of people availed of the medical services provided. Several prominent leaders and officials attended the event to extend their wishes to the Union Minister. These included State Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu, Legislative Council Chairman Koyye Moshen Raju, MLC Somu Veerraju, Combined West Godavari District ZP Chairperson Ghanta Padmasri, Bhimavaram MLA Pulaparthi Ramanjaneyulu, Narasapuram MLA Bommidi Nayakar, Tanuku MLA A Radhakrishna, APIIC Chairman Mantena Rama Raju, Jana Sena Combined West Godavari District President Kotikalapudi Govinda Rao, former Rajya Sabha MP Thota Seetharama Lakshmi, In-charge district collector Rahul Kumar Reddy, District SP Adnan Nayeem Asmi, Bhimavaram DSP R Jayasurya, and DCMS Chairman Chaganti Muralikrishna. The Union Minister extended gratitude to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on behalf of the people of Narasapuram for sanctioning ₹2,500 crore for the NH 165 Greenfield Project. As a gesture of appreciation, Srinivasa Varma performed an Abhishekam with milk (ritual bathing) for a portrait of Gadkari. Recalling the recent elections, Srinivasa Varma became emotional while addressing the gathering. He stated that some had spread false rumours, labelling him as a 'weak candidate' when he contested from Narasapuram as the NDA coalition's Lok Sabha candidate. He acknowledged the strong support and encouragement he received during that time from the BJP's central and state leadership, as well as from TDP and Jana Sena chiefs, Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan.
Hans India
11 minutes ago
- Hans India
TG athletes can gain from new sports policy
If Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has his say and goes all-out to implement his ambitious sports agenda, then the State, and its capital city in particular, will boast of world-class sports infrastructure across disciplines in the next couple of years. On the face of it, this is a praiseworthy effort as the bane of the Indian political apparatus has been the insipid promotion of sports, baring a select few. Budgetary allocations for sports have never been inspirational. In fact, the neglect is such that some allocations have been reduced here and there. The ambitiously carved out 32-page sports policy unveiled by Revanth Reddy the other day makes for a wonderful reading as he promises everything under the moon to realise his dream of making the state the hub of international sports. The comprehensive vision lays stress on strengthening governance, boosting infrastructure, and ushering in a breathtaking sports ecosystem that would result in the emergence of medal-winning athletes. There is no doubt that once he goes about the implementation process and enhances budgetary allocations, there would be smiles on the faces of countless sportspersons, coaches and the support staff. Over a period, Telangana can indeed be the envy of the nation going by the manner it brings about the best of infrastructure and sports avenues, including supporting budding talent coming from the poorer strata. Alas, carried away by the moment, Reddy revealed the politician in him when he spoke rather exaggeratedly that Hyderabad would be fit enough to host some Olympic disciplines by 2036. This is too ambitious a remark given that preparing grounds and facilities and putting in place infrastructure of an extraordinary kind for the mega event is no child's play. What the city has, as of now, is not sound enough to host even a fraction of the events that feature in Olympics. He should take cue from his political mentor N Chandrababu Naidu, who, in his effort to provide the best of facilities for the 2002 National Games, came up with the finest stadiums and playing surfaces. Budget was no problem. J Jayalalithaa constructed the magnificent JN stadium in nine months. Can Revanth Reddy emulate these records? The fact is that the stadiums constructed by Naidu like GMC Balayogi athletics stadium, KVBR stadium, tennis complex and the velodrome are all outdated as the wear and tear must have worn them out. They need to be refurbished before the city is good enough to host the National Games two years down the line, towards which Reddy is to approach the Indian Olympic Association. However, realising the herculean task that lies up ahead, the Chief Minister has played his masterstroke-a Public Private Participation (PPP). This will go a long way in helping him realise the dream of nurturing Olympic gold medallists and world champions across disciplines. Adding to this is the smart move to constitute a 14-member Board of Governors to oversee handling of the Telangana Sports Development Fund (TSDF). Featuring some big names from the world of sports and industry, including Kapil Dev, Abhinav Bindra, Pullela Gopichand and Bhaichung Bhutia, it will be headed by industrialist Sanjeev Goenka, which ensures transparent and accountable utilisation of resources that will be raised through the PPP mode. A good beginning has been made as the state was able to sign MoUs with many keen investors and sponsors. This can help promote exchange programmes with other nations and invest in proven international coaches. Hopefully, this will mark the beginning of rewarding days for sportspersons from Telangana.
