Jammu- A march by shopkeepers and labourers against a proposed ropeway project along the trek route leading to the Vaishno Devi shrine took an ugly turn on Monday as some protesters clashed with police at the Katra base camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
Police said the law and order situation had escalated and talks were being held to defuse the situation.
Officials said one policeman was injured after being manhandled by the protesters.
Amid slogans of “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, hundreds of protesters held a march and sit-in in Katra town, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the shrine atop Trikuta hill.
The protesters, who had initially called a 72-hour strike, extended it by 24 hours late on Sunday.
The strike called by shopkeepers and pony and palanquin owners began on November 22 after the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board announced plans to proceed with the Rs 250-crore ropeway project between Tarakote Marg and Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometre route.
The shopkeepers and labourers are fearful that the project, proposed to be completed in two years, would render them jobless.
During Monday’s protest, tension escalated when a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle attempted to pass through the town while the protesters were holding the dharna.
Some protesters turned violent, hitting the vehicle and breaking its windshield, the officials said.
The vehicle was moved back with police intervention, prompting clashes during which some protesters threw bricks at the cops, they added.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Reasi) Paramvir Singh said, “The law and order situation has become challenging and we are trying to handle it. Officers are in talks with the protesters to resolve the issue.”
The protesters are demanding that the project be shut down or compensation for all those likely to be affected.
‘People’s Concerns Will Be Taken Care Of’
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said the genuine concerns of the people protesting against the proposed ropeway project along the Mata Vaishno Devi route would be looked after.
Sinha, who is also the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), said a committee headed by the divisional commissioner of Jammu had already talked to the stakeholders to build a consensus on the development projects.
He was talking to reporters after taking stock of the ongoing Tawi Riverfront project in the heart of the city.
Responding to a question on the stone-pelting incident in Katra on the fourth day of the strike against the construction of the ropeway project, the Lt Governor said the concerns with regard to loss of employment are being taken care of.
However, he said there would be no compromise with development projects and creating ample employment opportunities for the people.
A march by shopkeepers and labourers against the proposed ropeway project along the trek route leading to the Vaishno Devi shrine took an ugly turn on Monday as some protesters clashed with police at the Katra base camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. The protesters are demanding that the project be shut down or compensation for all those likely to be affected.
A police official was injured in the stone pelting by the protesters but the situation was immediately brought under control with deployment of additional forces, officials said.
The strike by shopkeepers, and pony and palanquin owners began on Friday after the Shrine Board announced plans to proceed with a Rs 250-crore passenger ropeway project between Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometre track and complete it within two years.
Last week, the shrine board announced the implementation of the long-awaited ropeway project to facilitate a safer and faster journey for the pilgrims.
“The ropeway project will be a game changer, especially for those pilgrims who find it challenging to undertake the steep trek to the shrine,” shrine board CEO Anshul Garg had said.
The project had been shelved in the past due to similar protests.
While the shopkeepers up to three kilometres of the trek shut their establishments for the fourth day, the pony and palanquin owners also stayed away causing hardships to many pilgrims.
Take Stakeholders Into Confidence NC
National Conference meanwhile asked the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) to take all stakeholders into confidence before starting work on the ropeway project along the trek route to the shrine which is being opposed by a section of locals.
“While development is necessary, it should not come at the cost of the well-being of local communities whose lives revolve around the pilgrimage,” NC provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta said and appealed to the Shrine Board to explore alternative measures.
He expressed concern over the four-day agitation by shopkeepers, and pony and palanquin owners against the proposed project.
While acknowledging the commendable efforts of the Shrine Board in enhancing facilities for pilgrims visiting the revered shrine atop Trikuta hills, he emphasised the need for the Board to consider the plight of those whose livelihoods are intrinsically tied to the pilgrimage economy.
He cited the business community of Katra town, shopkeepers on the way from Katra to Sanjichat, pithus, ponywalas, palkiwalas and other daily wage earners.
The protests against the project turned violent on Monday as some resorted to stone pelting and clashed with police during their march in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. A policeman was injured in the incident.
Gupta highlighted that the relocation of the new bus stand of Delhi Katra Express and the proposed ropeway station Tarakot, situated three kilometres away from the old bus stand, poses a significant threat to the livelihood of thousands of labourers who rely on visiting pilgrims.
He urged the Board to hold extensive consultations with all stakeholders, ensuring that their concerns and livelihoods are safeguarded.
“Such discussions are crucial to maintaining harmony and ensuring that developmental initiatives enhance, rather than disrupt, the pilgrimage experience,” he said.
Gupta also appealed to the Shrine Board to explore alternative measures that strike a balance between modernizing the pilgrimage infrastructure and protecting the interests of the local population dependent on it.
“National Conference stands firmly with the people of Katra and remains committed to advocating for their rights,” he said.
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