Brakes on Devotion; Holy caves of Amarnath can be declared as a silence zone

Srinagar, November 15: After Vaishno Devi now its turn for Amarnath pilgrimage on which the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has a red eye. It has warned the Amarnath Shrine Board for not providing proper basic amenities to pilgrims going to the holy cave situated in the Himalayas in South Kashmir.

Green Tribunal expressing anger over not following compliance with the directions given by the Supreme Court in the year 2012 and asked the board what steps they have taken in this regard during these years. The NGT has asked the report to be submitted in the first week of December.

Green Tribunal has constituted a committee of experts headed by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest, who will present a plan to provide facilities to pilgrims. After directing the committee, after giving a direction to the report on the proper route, declaration of Silent Zone to the site of the cave and the cleanliness near the temple, the report should be submitted.

Special attention has been given to business activities rather than pilgrims. Permissions have been given to open shops near the temple rather than basic amenities. It is difficult for women as there are no proper basic amenities to pilgrims like toilet facility.

The committee has also been asked to consider eco-friendly toilets in the area. Tribunal told the Shrine Board that the compliance status of the Supreme Court's 2012 directions should be presented in the first week of December.