Says yatra no threat to environment

Abid Bashir
Srinagar, June 5: Claiming that Amarnath yatra poses no threat to environment, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday defended Government’s decision to allot 800 kanal of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) at Baltal, Sonmarg.

“There is no politics in the land allotment. Last time, when I performed Umrah, I saw pre-fabricated tents and toilets in Saudi Arabia. I thought why not to set the same at Baltal too,” Azad told Rising Kashmir on the sidelines of the inaugural function of World Environment Week at the University of Kashmir (KU).
He said few months back, he took a team of experts with him to the Baltal base camp of Amarnath pilgrimage commencing from June 18 to identity the areas where pre-fabricated tents and toilets could be set up.
“They (experts) selected the land at various places en route the cave where tents and toilets could be put in place,” said Azad. “Some people have opposed it saying the decision would harm the fragile environment of the place. I want to tell them setting up of tents and toilets would save the environment as these structures are not permanent constructions.”
Earlier in his inaugural speech, Azad said there was a zero progress as far the preservation of Dal Lake was concerned. “I feel sorry to say that the Lake is in the same condition as it was 18 years back. Some people for safeguarding their vested interests do not want the Lake to be preserved as it has become a money minting machine for them,” said Azad.
Chief Minister said preserving the environment was never an issue in the state, earlier. “Our state was known for the gushing streams, meadows, tall trees, especially Chinars and snow clad mountains. But unfortunately, some people are hell bent upon ruining the state’s ecology,” said Azad. “The irony is the job of a forest guard is to protect the forest. But it is he, who cuts the trees.”
Those who were present on the occasion included KU Vice Chancellor, Reyaz Punjabi, Jammu University Vice Chancellor Amitabh Matoo and others.