Rehabilitation plan for mule operators of Vaishnodevi track
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 14: Government has once again failed to meet the deadline fixed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for finalization of rehabilitation plan for large number of operators of mules and horses on Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine track, who have been affected or likely to be affected in near future due to green panel’s orders.
The slackness is prevailing despite imposition of Rs 50 lakh fine on last date of hearing and keeping in view the prevailing situation concerned authorities of the Government will receive rap on the knuckles from the Tribunal when the case will come up for hearing within next few days.
In a petition titled Gauri Maulekhi Versus State of J&K and others, the National Green Tribunal had last year directed that a new path to Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine should exclusively be used for pedestrians and battery-operated cars and horses or mules should not be allowed and these animals should be removed slowly from the old path as well.
As livelihood of large number of mules and horse operators was going to be badly affected due to these orders, the NGT had directed the State Government to immediately finalize rehabilitation plan for operators of these animals and put the same in public domain. However, instead of preparation of rehabilitation plan the Government made a submission for recall of this order but the plea was declined by the green panel.
On February 20, 2018, the NGT had rapped the Government over its failure to submit a plan and directed the Chief Secretary to file an affidavit stating the reasons for delay. While granting two weeks time to Government, the green panel had asked: Why can’t the officers sit together and come out with a plan….Who is preventing them?
On March 22, 2018, the counsel appearing for the State had filed an affidavit on behalf of the Chief Secretary with the prayer that four weeks time shall be granted to place the matter before the Cabinet for decision as rules have imposed constraints and a Cabinet approval was required before submitting the rehabilitation plan before the Tribunal.
Taking serious note of dilly-dallying approach on the part of Government, the NGT on last date of hearing imposed fine of Rs 50 lakh and granted only two weeks time for finalization of scheme in compliance to earlier orders. “Any failure on the part of the State will expose it to more harsh orders”, the Tribunal had made it clear to the counsel appearing for the State.
“Though two weeks time granted by the Tribunal has expired yet the Government has not finalized the rehabilitation plan despite the fact that this is a serious matter pertaining to large number of people whose life depends on the implementation of directions of NGT”, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
They further said, “it seems that Government has not learnt any lesson from its severe criticism by the Tribunal and imposition of Rs 50 lakh fine”, adding “if the matter was ready to be placed before the Cabinet then what was the hurdle in doing so since February 20”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Chief Secretary has taken a number of meetings on NGT directions with the concerned authorities and the Department of Urban Local Bodies was directed to construct sheds for the mule operators and organize training under National Urban Livelihood Mission to enable them to earn their livelihood easily and lead a better life.
The Chief Secretary had also directed for constitution of an expert panel to study the carrying capacity of track leading to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine so that the appropriate number of ponies ply on the track as per the directions of NGT.
“However, no follow-up action has been taken on these directives so far”, sources regretted, adding “the Government is all set to receive rap on the knuckles from the green panel on April 18, 2018 when the matter will again come up for hearing as rehabilitation plan has yet not reached the Cabinet”.
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