Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 31: Ahead of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s proposed mass agitation programme over what he alleges Government’s plan to construct concrete road to the Holy Amarnath Cave, an aerial survey of Baltal route rules out any construction activity en-route.
A group of 15 media persons flown in three helicopter sorties to have an aerial view of the Baltal-Panjtarni-Holy cave route for a first-hand account of the condition of the track found no construction activity from Baltal to Holy Cave.
The survey revealed no changes in the track from Baltal to the cave shrine as was seen before the end of the annual yatra in August this year in which around 7 lakh pilgrims performed darshan.
The aerial survey that was facilitated by the State Government found no construction activity or widening of track between Baltal-Sangam-Panjtarni-Holy cave route. The helicopter that flew low over the track found no human activity and the Holy Cave area was snow bound.
The aerial survey was facilitated to the media persons after Geelani refused to accept Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s offer of aerial survey of the track in State helicopter to clear his doubt.
Geelani had claimed that construction material has been dumped along the routes to the Amarnath cave for creating permanent facilities, including a motorable road, for the yatris.
Geelani has threatened to launch an agitation if the State Government did not shelve its alleged plans of road construction.
Geelani had demanded that no concrete road should be constructed, yatra should be reduced to 15 days period besides limited number of yatris should be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage, yatra should be conducted by the local Kashmiri Pandits, abolishing of SASB and non-state subjects should not be allowed to interfere in the conduct of the yatra.
IGP Kashmir, S M Sahai today said that no construction activity is going on the track adding even weather will not permit it. “Every year before the yatra track improvement is done to accommodate the flow of the pilgrims on the tracks and that is a routine affair and is conducted before the commencement of yatra”, he added.
The IGP said that neither Supreme Court nor High powered Committee appointed by it has suggested road construction. “However, there are some sanitation issues that are to be taken care of”, he added.
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