Vaishno Devi horses NGT raps J&K for defiance of orders on rehabilitation

TNN Bureau. Updated: 5/17/2018 10:30:31 AM Front Page

JAMMU: Underlining that a mischievous frustration was being executed in rehabilitation plan for horses and mules which have been barred from carrying pilgrims from Katra to the Vaishno Devi temple, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday came down heavily on state government for "open defiance" of its order, concerning the charting out of the same.

The green panel taking strong exception of state’s submissions that the issue was pending consideration before the Mehbooba Mufti-led cabinet, minced no word in extending a warning to the counsel appearing for Jammu and Kashmir.

"We have had enough. If you want to comply with our order, its okay. Otherwise we know how to get it done. You are mischievously frustrating the orders of the tribunal. We are pained by your conduct,” a bench headed by acting NGT Chaiperson Jawad Rahim said.

We have penned down each and every step for the rehabilitation in its order and yet the state government has not complied with its direction, it said.

"The counsel for the state government has submitted a tabulated statement of timeline of events, the reading of which shows that there is open defiance of the orders of the tribunal. No progress has been made. Meetings after meetings have been held without any result," the bench said.

The tribunal directed the state government to file a detailed affidavit on the rehabilitation plan before May 23, the next date of hearing.

It asked all stakeholders including representatives from Jammu and Kashmir government, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and association of mule owners to sit together and come out with a solution.

Earlier in April, the Green Panel had rebuked the state govt’s inefficiency to treat the matter with severity, while refusing to grant a four-week’s time the latter had sought to design a rehabilitation plan to be presented before the Cabinet for approval; NGT had instead imposed a fine of Rs.50 lakh for its failure to comply the orders.

The green panel's directions came during the hearing of a plea filed by an activist Gauri Maulekhi. The petitioner had sought the removal of horses and mules from the path to the shrine, calling it dangerous for the pedestrians, especially the senior citizens, thereby prompting the green panel to seek an immediate response from the government on the impending issue.


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