Srinagar, Nov 25: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said the genuine concerns of the people protesting against the proposed ropeway project along the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) route would looked after.
Sinha, who is also the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), said a committee headed by the divisional commissioner of Jammu had already talked to the stakeholders to build a consensus on the development projects.
While acknowledging the fears of those reliant on the pilgrimage economy, Sinha said that government is committed to balance development and employment.
Responding to a question on the stone-pelting incident in Katra on the fourth day of the strike against the construction of the ropeway project, the Lt Governor said the concerns with regard to loss of employment are being taken care of. However, he said there would be no compromise with development projects and creating ample employment opportunities for the people.
Meanwhile, a march by shopkeepers and labourers against the proposed ropeway project along the trek route leading to the Vaishno Devi shrine took an ugly turn on Monday as some protesters clashed with police at the Katra base camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. The protesters are demanding that the project be shut down or compensation for all those likely to be affected.
The strike by shopkeepers, and pony and palanquin owners began on Friday after the Shrine Board announced plans to proceed with a Rs 250-crore passenger ropeway project between Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometre track and complete it within two years. The project promises to provide a safer and faster journey for pilgrims, especially those who find the trek challenging due to its steep terrain.
Last week, the shrine board announced the implementation of the long-awaited ropeway project to facilitate a safer and faster journey for the pilgrims.
“The ropeway project will be a game changer, especially for those pilgrims who find it challenging to undertake the steep trek to the shrine,” shrine board CEO Anshul Garg had said recently.
The project had been shelved in the past due to similar protests.
While the shopkeepers up to three kilometres of the trek shut their establishments for the fourth day, the pony and palanquin owners also stayed away.
The strike has paralysed local businesses and caused inconvenience to pilgrims.
However, local shopkeepers, pony owners, and palanquin operators, who rely heavily on the pilgrimage economy, argue that the ropeway will threaten their livelihoods.
