Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, Nov 24 : The Ponywalas, Pithuwalas and local shopkeepers today held an emergency meeting and then held protest demonstration against NGT order of opening new track for battery car. (Click here to watch video)
Hundreds of labourers comprising Ponywalas and Pithus and shopkeepers assembled here in Katra town and started shouting slogans under the leadership of trade unionist, Bhupinder Singh.
Singh while addressing the protestors said that this meeting protest has been organized against the NGT decision to open newly constructed Katra-Adh Kunwari track for battery car, which will hit them hard. The pilgrims on either side of the track faced hard situation for couple of hours as the poneywallahs, palkiwallahs and pithus, working on the track, refused to budge saying their livelihood will be hit if the track was made motorable.
The protestors threatened that if the decision is not rolled back, they will protest on Katra-Jammu road and also stop the pilgrimage.
The local shopkeepers said that the NGT decision to run battery operated cars on the newly constructed track from Ban Ganga to Adh Kuwari will ruin local business completely. Firstly, the Shrine Board ruined the lives of `Baridars’ now NGT is playing with the lives of poor labourers.
The speakers in meeting said that if the track will be made motorable, then the Government will have to be ready to face massive protest.
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