NGT SAYS NOT MORE THAN 50K PILGRIMS A DAY, A ‘RARE FIGURE’

JAMMU: As the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Monday capped the number of devotees to visit Vaishno Devi shrine to 50,000 a day, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, headed by governor NN Vohra, wondered the logic behind the figure, when the number of visitors has not even been close to 40,000 to date.

“Let alone 50,000 pilgrims, the figure never reached 40,000 a day. We have got Yatra registration counters at Katra, Ban Ganga, Darshani Deodi and Ardhkuwari. If there is a sudden rush of pilgrims, like during Navratras, summer vacations, weekends and on year-ends, we slow down fresh registrations to cope with the influx because the Bhawan (sanctum sanctorum) has a limited space.

“These Yatra counters coordinate throughout,” a senior official of the shrine board said.

The National Green Tribunal said only 50,000 devotees will be allowed to make their way to the shrine on a day while others will be stopped either at Ardhkumari or Katra.

It also stayed new constructions inside the shrine complex.

The official said during Navratra, the number varies from 30,000 to 35,000 pilgrims a day.

“It is exceptional that the figures go beyond 50,000 a day. It might have happened rarely in the past,” he added.

On NGT’s stay on new construction, he said that governor being the chairman of the shrine board personally monitors every aspect of the pilgrimage.

Board’s chief executive officer JK Singh, who is in Delhi, told Hindustan Times over phone that the board has not received any official order as of now but whatever the NGT as asked shall be followed in letter and spirit.

The National Green Tribunal has been taking a close look at the impact on areas adjoining the approach road for the shrine and at the religious site as well.

Last year, it had directed the CEO to furnish a report with details of the municipal solid waste and sewage treatment plants installed there.