The order of the Supreme Court to the State Government to have the track from Panchatarani to the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnath paved with pre-fabricated crude tiles has set at rest the controversy that had been ranging for some time in Kashmir. The pilgrimage to the holy cave and related matters had been, unfortunately, politicized and the entire episode was made so sensitive as to attract the attention of one and all. Sections of stakeholders brought in the issue of ecology and environmental security. Others talked of cultural invasion. People by and large sensitive to such issues were at wits end how the situation would be resolved without creating bad blood among sections of people.
The Supreme Court had taken suo moto cognizance of the tragic death of more than a hundred pilgrims this year during the course of their hike to the holy cave over the Himalayan Mountains. It ordered constitution of a Special High Power Committee to go into the causes of the tragic fatalities among the pilgrims and to report how safety of pilgrims can be ensure in future. The HPC comprised of Secretaries of concerned departments. It was directed to submit its report to the State Government for approval and action. The report of the HPC was based on physical visits of some of its members to the track leading to the holy cave. It dealt with almost all aspects of the pilgrimage and the track and finally submitted a comprehensive report to the State Government. The State Cabinet once put off its decision on the report because some of the cabinet members had desired more time to study the report in full and examine its implications. The Supreme Court granted extra time and then the state cabinet finally gave its nod and accepted all the recommendations of the High Power Committee. The State Attorney submitted before the Supreme Court that the State Cabinet had decided to implement the recommendations in letter and in spirit.
With this background the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on 13 December in which it made specific clarifications and very emphatically stated that it had never intended that a metalled and motorable road should be built to reach the holy cave. All that the Apex Court has ordered is paving the track with pre-fabricated crude slabs so that walkers do not slip while trekking the distance. The Supreme Court has also desired that iron poles be grounded by the side of the track and iron chains tied to these to provide support to the trekkers and also to secure them against falling down into deep gorges.
Clarifying the impact of its order the Supreme Court has said, “While taking into account every aspect including the environment have we neither directed nor should we be understood to have implicitly directed that there should be metalled motorable road in place of the walking tracks/passages. There shall be provided separate one way passage for palkis and horses as one unit and the pedestrians as the other, near to and at the passages leading to the Holy Shrine. Preferably on this passage pre-fabricated walking path/matting should be provided. We must not be understood to have ordered directly or indirectly, construction of any motorable metalled road in place of walking tracks. However, we hasten to clarify that it is not only improvement of the road at critical portions but the entire track needs to be improved, particularly from Panchtarani to the Holy Cave.”
The order also said that all other walking tracks from various other points, like Baltal, Panchtarani and Chandanvari may be covered either by pre-fabricated rough cement tiles or such other material which would be most appropriate for the benefit of the pilgrims. The Supreme Court’s order was clear that attempt should be made to construct shelters on the passage or walking paths at regular intervals.
Temporary or pre-fabricated shelters should certainly be provided near the Holy Shrine where large number of persons collect and have to wait for long hours for darshan.
It will be seen that the order of the Supreme Court takes into account all aspects of the case and also allays all fears that have been entertained by stakeholders about the issue. The most important aspect is that of preserving the pristine purity of the ecology of the region. The court order amply insulates the greenhouse aspect and nobody, including the Department of Tourism, should have any objection to it. The sensitive and complicated issue has been very amicably resolved by the Supreme Court. Now the Shrine Board and the State Government intandem with Central Government must concentrate on implementation of the decisions of Apex Court. We would also like to remind the Shrine Board authorities that it is their duty to impress upon the pilgrims to keep the entire track clean and not throw litter and waste on sideways nor pollute the water and greenery. There should be some deterrent to stopping the pilgrims from breaking sanitation rules.
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