Strict action will be taken against illegal travel agents: Minister

Orders to complete checking of travel agents, organizations and agencies operating in districts by September 10

Chandigarh: The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will take stern action against the travel agents, institutions and agencies working illegally in the state.

Disclosing this, Punjab NRI Affairs and Administrative Reforms Minister Mr. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the checking of licenses and other necessary approvals etc. is underway in all districts.

After a review meeting related to matters of NRIs with senior officials of various departments, Mr. Dhaliwal said that so far the information of 7179 travel agents, agencies, offices has been collected, of which 3547 have been checked by district teams. He said that during this checking, 271 organizations have been found illegal and FIR has been registered against 25 organisations. He said that out of a total 609 complaints received during the NRI meet, 588 have been resolved and the remaining 21 cases are under process.

Min Dhaliwal said that the Punjab government is committed to resolve the complaints of NRI Punjabis and other various matters on priority basis. The SDM Cum nodal officers posted in various districts, have been ordered to complete the checking of travel agents, agencies, offices etc. functioning in the respective districts by September 10. He said that the institutions, agencies which are willing to work in the right way i.e. under the law and prescribed conditions, will be given an opportunity to fulfill the prescribed conditions.

The NRI Minister instructed the nodal officers posted in the districts to ensure that all cases related to NRIs sent to them by the department should be dealt with on priority basis.

On this occasion Principal Secretary NRI Affairs Mr. Dilip Kumar, ADGP NRI Mr. Praveen Kumar Sinha, AIG HQ NRI Mr. Ajinder Singh, Secretary NRI Mrs. Kamaljit Kaur Brar, Additional Secretary NRI Mr. Paramjit Singh and Nodal officers NRI posted in different districts were also present.