NGT caps number of devotees at Vaishno Devi to 50,000 per day

The NGT has directed that no mules or horses would be allowed on the new route. File photo

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday, restricted the number of devotees visiting the shrine of Vaishno Devi, in Jammu, to 50,000 per day in order to restore the ecology of the area. Further, the NGT has said that a new path to the shrine, for the exclusive use by pedestrians and battery operated cars will be opened from November 24.

Hearing a plea filed by social worker Gauri Maulekhi, a bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar also directed that no mules or horses would be allowed on the new route and gradually the same shall be removed from the old path as well.

Further, the green panel laid down that whenever the number of devotees exceeded the set limit, they would be stopped at either Katra or at Ardhkuwari.

“The large influx of pilgrims coupled with increase in the number of horses, mules and ponies, which are poorly fed and therefore graze on the available flora, has immensely accelerated large scale deforestation and loss of local flora and fauna” the petition read.

Further, the petitioner also highlighted the large scale solid waste that gets generated due to the number of devotees that visit the shrine each day, which resulted in further pollution. “Large scale amounts of untreated solid and liquid waste generated by pilgrims are disposed directly into water resources in the region, more specifically the Banganga river” read the petition.

Additionally, the green panel directed the concerned authorities to levy an environmental compensation of Rs. 2000 on anyone who was found littering the area.

Directing the authorities to start operations of the newly constructed road, the bench said, “The new path which was constructed for Rs. 40 crore, should be positively opened to public by November 24. No further time will be granted and in default, appropriate action will be taken against the concerned authorities.”