Ropeway Row at Katra

The chilly winter month of December is witnessing the heat of protests over the proposed rupees 250 crore ropeway project that will join the Tarakote Marg with the Sanji Chatt along the 12 km Yatra route towards the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. Last month there was a deadlock that led to the conflict between the shopkeepers, palanquin owners, workers along the Yatra trek who fear the loss of business once the ropeway is made operational after the execution of the project. The protestors were furious when the leaders involved in the agitation were held by the police. The issue was later resolved. Even the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had assured the protestors that the interests of the stakeholders will be taken care off. Now the things seem to be going out of control perhaps due to the trust deficit and desperation among the various stakeholders. Large number of protestors marched through the main market in Katra on Sunday raising slogans against the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board(SMVDSB) for setting up the ropeway along the Yatra trek for the pilgrims. The protestors are also getting the support of the political parties in this agitation. To catalyse the agitation against the ropeway Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti has given the call for the complete strike (Bandh) in support of their demands on 18th December. The leaders of the agitation are seeking the support of the various prominent organisations in Jammu to assert pressure on the administration so that their demands are accepted. The Rising Kashmir has repeatedly said in the editorials that this issue needs to be resolved in the best interests of all the stakeholders that include the pilgrims and those who benefit in Katra from the multiplier effect of the pilgrimage tourism. Procrastination will only aggravate the situation and it will lead to the loss that will have an adverse impact on the overall functioning and management of the Yatra. Shree Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage has brought Jammu and Kashmir on the tourism map. And created a niche market due the firm belief of the pilgrims in the Divinity of Shree Mata Vaishno Devi Ji. SMVDSB has been known for its professionalism over the decades and the service it provides to the pilgrims. Time has come to go for the appraisal of the overall model of the Yatra management. So that all stakeholders are involved and misconceptions are addressed. Local involvement in the Yatra at the service provider level has been one of the key factors to give Yatra a positive dimension. While upgrading the pilgrim facilities there is a need to safeguard the interests of the locals so that the bad blood that has been created is stopped. Need is to develop a model that addresses the economic sustainability of the stakeholders and at the same time gives a modern facelift to the Yatra by providing the best possible facilities to the pilgrims. SMVDSB must engage with the stakeholders and address their concerns at the earliest and at the same time the local stakeholders must shun the path of confrontation and join hands to diffuse this deadlock. Inconvenience to the Yatris will only create negative marketing and will lead to a bad word of mouth. That has to be avoided and a way forward sought to restore the smooth conduct of the Yatra.