Srinagar: Day after a tourist died during a rafting ride on river Lidder at Pahalgam, representatives of adventure tour operators Friday accused the department of issuing licences for the activity to unprofessional persons under political pressure.
President, Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir (ATOAK) Rauf Tramboo accused the tourism department of issuing licenses without any criteria.
“Earlier only 18 adventure tour operators had licenses to organize rafting activities at two stretches at Pahalgam but due to political pressure even tour operators without having any knowledge about adventure tourism were given permission to conduct rafting on river Lidder,” Tramboo said.
He said the government should allow only “professional adventure tour operators” having sufficient experience in organizing adventure activities.
“Rafting is a technical activity which requires experience and proper care needs to be taken while taking tourist for a rafting ride,” he said, adding that nowadays even inexperienced persons are taking tourists for rafting ride.
The adventure tour operators blamed the authorities for the mishap saying that rafting boats are operated illegally in the area.
“The tourism department has already designated Yannar, a scenic spot downstream Lidder in the periphery of Pahalgam, as rafting spot but last year some rafting companies started operating boats illegally from Mamal to Nunwan without proper permission,” the tour operators said.
Director Tourism Kashmir, Talat Pervaiz told Greater Kashmir that the department has lodged FIR against the tour operator and cancelled his travel agent licence for “illegally” organizing rafting at Pahalgam.
“Tourism department had issued rafting licenses to the tour operators for 2-years only. That period has since come to an end. Currently, not a single tour operator has the valid license to organize rafting activities at Pahalgam,” Pervaiz said.
He added that because of code of conduct, they were not able to issue tenders for companies carrying rafting activities.
“Once the code of conduct is over, we will soon issue fresh tenders. The eligible company must have all safety equipment and measures in place and local tour operators can operate under such company,” he said.
To mention, Deputy Commissioner, Islamabad (Anantnag) ordered a probe into the incident of death of the tourist and appointed ADDC Islamabad as Inquiry Officer.
Tourism deptt is issuing river rafting licence to 'ineligible' operators: Stakeholders
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