 Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 23: Shiv Sena J&K unit held severely the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board responsible for the premature melting of the Ice-Lingam at the Holy Cave Shrine, accusing the Board and Government of neglecting the recommendations of the Nitin Sen Committee. The Party blamed the government for hurting the religious sentiments of devotees as the present regime in J&K focusing only on increasing the number of tourists in the Union Territory.
Addressing a press conference at Party's State Central Office in Jammu today, Manish Sahni, President Shiv Sena J&K said that thousands of devotees' who were still waiting to have Darshan of Baba Barfani, are getting disheartened as the 18-feet high Ice-Lingam of the holy Amarnath cave melts three weeks before the completion of the Yatra.
"While the government knew that not only India, but the whole of Europe was also suffering from the heat caused by climate change, despite all this, the recommendations of the Nitin Sen Committee were ignored deliberately," he said.
Sahni said as per the Sen Committee, a total of 7000 passengers were recommended to be sent daily from both the travel routes, whereas at present more than 10 thousand pilgrims were being sent daily and besides the deployment of thousands of soldiers for the security of both the routes, administrative staff, Langar, etc. about 20 thousand people including Sewa Dar, Pittu Wale i.e, were present near the Amarnath Yatra routes and cave. Helicopter service and rounds were increased on it due to which the holy Amarnath cave and the surrounding environment has drastically affected resulting in the naturally formed snow Shivling was disappeared before the time.
Sahni said that if all the recommendations of the committee had been implemented on ground, perhaps the huge damage caused by the nature disaster of cloudburst on July 8 could have been avoided. He reminded that about 16 people were died in the cloud burst accident.
Sahni said that the government is providing better facilities to the pilgrims, but along with this, protecting the environment and respecting the topography should not be neglected at any costs.
Among those who were present include Vikas Bakshi, Raj Singh, Shashipal, Mangu Ram, Naresh Kumar and Ashok Kumar. |
