Shimla, May 28 -- The forest department of Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday put on hold its order imposing user charge on visitors to the Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary in Sirmaur district, officials said.

A controversy had erupted earlier this month, with locals alleging that the "user charge" was imposed by the state government on people going to the Churdhar valley where there is an ancient temple.

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had termed it as a "fee on religious pilgrimage".

Officials had maintained that the user charge was imposed only on trekkers visiting the Churdhar wildlife sanctuary. People going to the Shirgul Maharaj temple has to pass through some portions of the sanctuary.

In an order issued on Tuesday, deputy con...