SRINAGAR (KNS) – Voicing grave concern over the moves to lay cement tiles as part of road construction to Amarnath cave and its disastrous impact on environment, flora and fauna and water resources of the ecologically fragile region, Hurriyat Conference (G) Monday said it would intensify its efforts to fully discharge its role to safeguard the interests of the state.
In a statement issued after a meeting of conglomerates Majlis-e-Shoora chaired by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Hurriyat (G) spokesman said the reports of the Apex Courts order to lay prefabricated cement tiles on the track had strengthened the apprehension that road construction in a phased manner was in the works. The plan would be a precursor to the eventual spell a doom for the ecology, environment, forests and water resources of the state, he said.
Being the representative forum of the urges and aspirations of Kashmiri people, Hurriyat Conference owes it to the state people to take all the steps necessary to safeguard their interests, the spokesman said, reiterating its demand for dissolving the Shrine Board, entrusting pilgrimage management to local Kashmiri Pandits, and restricting its duration and size, which have a direct bearing on natives life and livelihood.
Taking a dig at the National Conference-led government, the meeting accused the rulers of being focused on their own survival for which they compromised the states resources in the past and are engaged in selling out its interests for their personal gains.
The Majlis-e-Shoora condemned the silence over the yatra-related issues it had raised. Instead of responding to the specific issues, they beat about the bush. It has been our stand since 2008 based on scientific considerations that Shrine Board should be dissolved entrusting yatra management to Kashmiri Pandits. Stretching the yatra to two months and allowing 50 times increase in the number of pilgrims will cause irreparable harm to the environment, forests and water resources of the state, he said.
Unless and until the basic demands are conceded, the spokesman said, Hurriyat (G) would continue with its struggle to mobilize people against the extremely harmful fallout of the plans and create mass awareness among civil society, lawyers, media, traders and transporters besides college and university faculties and students. A committee headed by Advocate S M Rishi has already been set up for the purpose, he said.
Hurriyat (G) body reiterated its stand that Kashmiri people were not against the yatra but would resist all the moves to turn the normal religious ritual into a tool of political adventurism aimed at harming the interests of the state.
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