Owners of tea stalls at Doodhpathri tourist resort of central Kashmir’s Budgam district have been asked to vacate the spaces they have been occupying within 10 days.
Several tea stalls have come up along the roadside at Doodhpatri ‘illegally’. The owners of these tea stalls have even erected tents and shades without seeking permission from the concerned department.
An official from the Forest Department told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that a team from the Forest Protection Force visited Doodhpathri and warned the owners of these tea stalls of action in case they don’t vacate the space.
He said that the Forest Department received several complaints wherein it was alleged that the owners of these illegal tea stalls not only cut the tree branches but also disfigure the beauty of the picturesque meadows of Doodhpathri. He added that the presence of these tea stalls poses a threat to the lives of the visitors as they have occupied the spaces above which HT line passes.
The team of Forest Protection Force informed the tea stallers using the public address system. “Anyone selling tea illegally after the deadline will face legal action,” the official said.
On the way to the meadows of Doodhpathri in Kashmir, hundreds of tea stalls, mostly run by women have been serving as a sole source of income to dozens of local families.
Tourist vehicles regularly halt at humble at these stalls operated by local women where one can devour delicacies like Makai Chot, Saag (collard greens), Anchar (pickle), and Noon Chai.