As per the instructions of Director Handicrafts, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad and Joint Director Handicrafts, Pawan Kumar Sharma, a team of Quality Control Enforcement Wing today conducted extensive inspection of handicraft dealers at various tourist notified places at Katra town and Bagh-e-Bahu, Jammu.
During the course of inspection, the team took notice of illegal activities being undertaken by some of the handicraft dealers which included selling machine made items in the name of ‘Kashmir Handicrafts’ and running the business without proper registration under Tourist Trade Act, 1978/ 82.The team imposed Rs. 25000 as fine on erring handicraft dealers for violating various provisions of Tourist Trade Act.
The inspection team also issued strict warnings to the unregistered handicraft dealers and directed them to get registered with the Directorate of Handicrafts, failing which stern action will be initiated against them under rules. (PTK)