It is unfortunate that the holy town Katra, the base camp for Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage is facing odd times these days because of the apprehensions made by the local business owners, pony operators and palanquin bearers that the proposed ropeway project will snatch their bread and butter. Besides, controversy also attributed to the base point location of the proposed Ropeway project which the stakeholders termed as inappropriate. First, the starting point of the proposed Ropeway is some distance away from the Katra town while it could start from the town itself and most appropriate land for the purpose has been under encroachment. Secondly, implementing the project at the proposed site will substantially deplete the green hillock and it would damage the environment.
In this context, Katra observed a complete shut down and those who are going to get affected by this development project also held a protest march.
It is pertinent to mention that last month, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board decided to install the ropeway to facilitate access to the temple for senior citizens, children and others who find it difficult to climb the 13-km-long track to the cave shrine. The people have been demanding to shelve this project despite the fact that LG’s administration has assured rehabilitation of those who will be affected by this ropeway project.
Although many political parties have also extended the support to this agitation but what is to be seen is the fact that such projects are the need of the hour to make the revered cave shrine accessible for those who cannot climb the steep mountain and pay obeisance to seek the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi. The demand to shelve the project is not fully justified but as far as Shrine Board and the LG’s administration are concerned, they should come up with a plan to compensate and rehabilitate the affected lot in black and white leaving no scope for any kind of ambiguity.
Of course, it is the responsibility of the government to conceive and craft the aforesaid plan in a way that people who are at loggerheads today with administration should like the same and agree without any delay. Allowing tension to escalate in such matters is not advisable therefore the government should understand the fear of people protesting the ropeway and it should come up with the lucrative rehabilitation plan as soon as possible because stalling development is in no way a prudent step.
The need of the hour is to resolve the issue amicably and as early as possible because at times such situations could be misused by anti-social and anti-national elements especially when the happening place is in J&K, which is still facing the remnants of terrorism.
