Srinagar,Feb 19: Dozens of people staged a protest in Katra on Thursday morning against the proposed ropeway project to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, alleging that the decision has been forced upon the town despite widespread opposition.
Eyewitnesses said protesters assembled in parts of Katra town raising slogans against the project and demanding its immediate rollback. Demonstrators claimed that almost every section of the local population has conveyed its opposition to the ropeway proposal, but authorities have allegedly proceeded without addressing their concerns.
The protesters maintained that the hill locks and the surrounding terrain of Mata Vaishno Devi are being ravaged in the name of development, an act they termed as deeply hurtful to the religious sentiments of devotees. They alleged that the Shrine Board is disregarding the spiritual and emotional attachment people have with the traditional pilgrimage route.
Some protesters stated that the ropeway project would not only impact the sanctity of the shrine but also affect those associated with the existing pilgrimage ecosystem, including pony owners, porters and small traders who depend on yatri movement for livelihood.
Notably, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had yesterday appealed to the people of Katra not to panic, asserting that the livelihood of locals would not be affected due to the ropeway project. He assured that development initiatives are being planned with due consideration to public interest.
However, protester reiterated that development should not come at the cost of faith and tradition, demanding a broader consultation process before moving forward with the project.
