The Sikkim government has constituted a high-level committee to look into complaints of “exploitative” cab fares and permit rates and lack of amenities for visitors, among other things.

Sources said that the committee headed by an additional secretary of the tourism department has been formed to look into the complaints and submit a report within a fortnight.

“On Sunday senior officials of the tourism department also visited Changu Lake and Nathu-la to take stock of the situation,” said a source.

Plans are also afoot to introduce a centralised permit system to visit Nathu-la along the India-China border.

The initiative comes after the Union ministry of tourism wrote to the Sikkim tourism and civil aviation department on May 13, expressing concerns on various tourism related issues.

The letter sent by the CPGRAMS (Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System) of the ministry said tourists visiting the Himalayan state had lodged several complaints about the problems they faced during their recent trips.

K.P. Wasnik, a former additional commissioner of the Union ministry of agriculture, had been to Sikkim and Darjeeling from April 27 to May 5 with his family. After his visit, the letter said, he filed a complaint with the tourism ministry, narrating several issues.

“The issues raised (by Wasnik) included exploitative pricing by the travel agencies for permits to visit various tourist spots, safety concerns at Nathu-la point due to narrow steps and inadequate infrastructure, lack of amenities and security measures at tourist spots and exorbitant charges by travel agencies for car rentals,” the letter sent by the ministry, said.

“It is requested that the matter kindly be examined and action as deemed fit,” said the letter.

In his complaint, Wasnik said he and the family had visited Lachung, Zero Point, Yumthang Valley, Nathu-la and some other spots in Sikkim.

“The travel agencies charged ₹ 4,000 for Zero Point and Yumthang Valley and another ₹ 4,000 for
permits to go to Nathu-la pass and the lake. This is sheer exploitation of the visitors. I suggest that the government department should issue the pass online by accepting the fee, if any, through online mode,” the former official said in his letter.

He also said no arrangements were available at the tourist spots to provide shelter or proper food to visitors in case of a sudden downpour or snowfall.

“The travel agencies charge very exorbitant rates for travelling by car,” Wasnik said in his
complaint to the tourism ministry and suggested that the Sikkim government fix the rates.