Omar questions NGT's decision to declare Amarnath cave a 'silence zone'

Srinagar, Dec 14: Questioning National Green Tribunal’s decision to declare Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas a ‘silence zone’, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah asked how chanting outside the holy cave, while on a pilgrimage, will damage the environment.

“It’s probably just me but I don’t understand how chanting outside the holy cave while on a pilgrimage to Amarnath ji damages the environment,” Mr Abdullah, who is the working president of National Conference (NC), wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar on Wednesday in New Delhi declared Amarnath cave shrine a ‘silence zone’, saying it would be helpful in preventing avalanches and maintaining its pristine nature.