Hud Mata yatra: No service, chopper firms fined Rs 1 lakh

Jammu, July 20

Hundreds of pilgrims performing the Shri Hud Mata Yatra in the remote Dachan belt in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district are facing hardships due to the failure of two private helicopter service providers to operate, officials said.

New Delhi-based Heritage Aviation Private Ltd and Pawan Hans Ltd have got the contract to operate choppers along the Kishtwar-Kalkoot-Sirchi and Gulabgarh-Machail sectors during the annual six-day Hud Mata Yatra and the 43-day Machail Mata Yatra. The Shri Hud Mata Yatra commenced on July 18 and the Machail Yatra is scheduled to begin on July 25. Taking serious note of the “breach of agreement”, the officials said Kishtwar District Magistrate Angrez Singh Rana had imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the two service providers. Rana has cautioned them that their case would be recommended to the Director General of Civil Aviation for “blacklisting” if their services remained disrupted.

“A large number of pilgrims stranded at various stations en route the Hud Mata shrine suffered due to unavailability of air services as per the advertisement and agreement made by the district administration. Both the parties are liable for imposition of penalty as per the clause of 31 of the tender’s documents and as per clause 27 of the agreement,” the officials said, quoting an order issued by Rana.

Bids for the chopper services from the two sectors were invited on March 31 and three service providers - Heritage Aviation Private Ltd, Aryan Aviation Ltd and Pawan Hans Ltd - were found technically qualified. — PTI