Amarnath Pilgrimage
As Amarnath Pilgrimage is in the news with the whole govt of Jammu & Kashmir ensuring that there is no problem in holding the same .
On 26 May 2008, the Government of India and the state government of Jammu and Kashmir reached an agreement to transfer 100 acres (0.40 km2) of forest land to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) to set up temporary shelters and facilities for Hindu pilgrims. Kashmiri opposed the move citing reasons that it will jeopardize article 370 that gives a separate identity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and prevents any Indian citizen to settle in Kashmir besides environmental damage to Kashmir. People in Kashmir staged widespread protests against this decision by the government of India. Due to the protests, the J&K State government relented and reversed the decision to transfer land. As a result, Hindus in the Jammu region launched counter-agitations against this rollback.
Environmentalists have expressed concern that the number of people participating in the Amarnath Yatra is having a negative impact on the area’s ecology and some have expressed support for government-regulated limits on the number of pilgrims permitted to make the trek. However, no studies have been made nor has an environmental impact assessment been done. As of date, the Government of India restricts travelers only on the basis of logistics, the time window for the yatra, and weather. Why this has not been done up to date?
The number of annual pilgrims has generally risen consistently from between 12,000 -20,000in 1989, to over 400,000 in 2007, 634,000 in 2011, 622,000 in 2012, 350,000 in 2013, 285,006 in 2018.
On 8 July 2022, at least 16 people were killed, over 40 were missing, and dozens were injured while around 15000 pilgrims were stranded near the Amarnath Holy cave due to a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst near the Lidder Valley en route to the venerated cave. The Amarnath Yatra was halted due to the flash flood on 8 July for 3 days.
I saw recently an article regarding the effect on the environment of uncontrolled tourism. https://theleaflet.in/unregulated-tourist-influx-kashmir-dreads-the-final-straw-that-will-break-the-himalayas-back/?fbclid=IwAR2kVkMHIGf9CGCszSDaFCSzqeUZM91c2P1Cu9Enb2a0D_sCYO9IFnmxMZc
In the article, I saw that “” The pilgrims coming for pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave should not be allowed to carry any plastic packed food materials and the number of pilgrims visiting the shrine should also be reduced, as recommended by Nitesh SenGupta Committee report ‘’
Is it not important for the world to take notice that one of the countries worldwide try to show that we are very concerned about the climate which is as such only lip service?
I had the privilege to attend a Program(Rising Kashmir Debates ) conducted by the Late Shujjat Sahib in 2014 which is on Youtube. People may see the whole Youtube debate through this link .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm8prcHGCss where the issues were discussed in detail.
The main points to ponder were pointed out then:
1 . Nunwan camp is still operational which was at that time agreed to be disbanded when Chandarwari camp would be set up. By continuing to have NunWan camp the Amarnath shrine board and in turn the Govt. takes whole control of Pahalgam which is a very important tourist resort and is practically under control for the whole period of the yatra and even before and after the Yatra. This results in complete closure for our high-paying tourists.
2. There has been no environmental assessment in regard to the carrying capacity of the area which will every now and then have cloud bursts which happened in 2014,2022 also resulting in the destruction of the city and all our businesses are still reeling under those losses as no compensation was paid although it was a man-made disaster.
3. Implementation of Nitesh SenGupta Committee report.
4. If there is a plan to make a road it needs to be stopped and stopped now.
5. Forests have microclimate and with the 2023 Amarnath yatra being planned for 62 days the total number is 992000 with 16000 daily pilgrims which certainly is going to be damaging to the climate.
6. Has there been any assessment of the effect of helicopter service effect on the glaciers?
What does this all reflect?
It reflects that India is acting as an occupying state even in case of our environment.
