AMN
The National Green Tribunal today rapped the Amarnath Shrine Board for not providing proper infrastructural facilities to pilgrims travelling to the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
The Green Panel took exception over non-compliance of the
directions issued by the Supreme Court in 2012 and directed the Shrine Board to submit a status report, by the first week of December, on the compliance of the apex court directions.
Head of the bench NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said there are no proper facilities for toilets and its humiliating for women. Justice Kumar added the Board gives priority to commercial activities over pilgrims which is unfair.
The Green Panel formed a committee of experts headed by the additional secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forests to submit an action plan on providing facilities to the pilgrims.
Amarnath cave shrine is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism.The directions came while hearing the plea filed by environment activist Gauri Maulekhi.