The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday rapped the Amarnath Shrine Board for not providing proper infrastructural facilities to pilgrims.
The green court has formed committee of experts headed by additional secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to submit action plan on providing facilities to pilgrims visiting the Shiva temple. The committee shall submit report on aspects like providing proper path, cleanliness in area near shrine after inspection, the tribunal said.
The green panel took exception over non-compliance of the directions issued by the Supreme Court in 2012 and asked the Board what steps they have taken in all these years.
The development comes days after the green court capped the number of pilgrims visiting the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine daily to 50,000. The tribunal said that Vaishno Devi Bhavan cannot accomodate more than 50,000 pilgrims at a time.
Amarnath cave shrine is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism. The cave itself is covered with snow most of the year except for a short period of time in summer when it is open for pilgrims.
