New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Thursday clarified that it has not imposed any restriction including on chanting of mantras and singing of bhajans inside the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas. Following protests over its decision, the green panel said that it has neither intended nor declared the entire area as a “silence zone”.
It said that the only restriction imposed was that any devotee or any individual should maintain silence while standing in front of the “Amarnath Ji Maha Shivling”, a natural formation in the cave.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said the restriction was not applicable to any other part including the main stairs leading to the holy cave.
The tribunal also clarified that on the last stairs approximately 30 steps leading to the holy cave, it should be ensured that no pilgrim carries any material as it is already the practice of the Board.
“The one way queue of visitors/pilgrim will be maintained at the shrine. These directions would be complied with by all concerned. “This direction in our considered view is required to maintain the sanctity and pristine condition of the holy cave on the one hand while on the other to ensure that there are no adverse impacts of noise, heat, vibrations etc. upon the Amarnath Ji Maha Shivling, so that the pilgrims coming in the later part of the limited period available to the pilgrimage are also able to have the darshan of the Amarnath Ji Maha Shivling,” the bench said.
