New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal todayrapped the Amarnath Shrine Board for not providing properinfrastructural facilities to pilgrims travelling to the caveshrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
The Green Panel took exception over non-compliance of thedirections issued by the Supreme Court in 2012 and asked theBoard what steps they have taken in all these years.
"You have allowed shops on path near the shrine. Thereare no proper facilities for toilets. Do you even know howhumiliating this is for women. Why have you not providedproper infrastructural facilities for pilgrims. You are givingpriority to commercial activities over pilgrims. This isunfair. The sanctity of the shrine has to be maintained," abench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The Green Panel formed a committee of experts headed byadditional secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forests(MoEF) to submit action plan on providing facilities to thepilgrims.
The bench said the Committee shall submit report onaspects like providing a proper path and declaring the cave assilent zone while maintaining cleanliness in area near theshrine after inspection.
It also asked the Committee to consider installing eco-friendly toilets in the area.
The NGT also directed the Shrine Board to submit a statusreport, by the first week of December, on the compliance ofdirections issued by the apex court in 2012.
Amarnath cave shrine is considered to be one of theholiest shrines in Hinduism.
The cave itself is covered with snow most of the yearexcept for a short period of time in summer when it is openfor pilgrims.
The directions came while hearing the plea filed byenvironment activist Gauri Maulekhi. PTI PKS RRTDV.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.