Road to Kailash pilgrimage centre in Bhaderwah
PM mentioned about this holy trip in ‘Mann Ki Baat’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 22: The Roads & Buildings (R&B) and the PMGSY Departments of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are virtually in a state of quandary, as the Forest and Wildlife Departments have become main hurdle in two major road projects leading to famous Kailash Kund pilgrimage centre on most beautiful and picturesque Seoj Dhar in Bhaderwah Sub Division of district Doda.
An abode of Lord Shiva, about which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made special mention in his famous Radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat, recalling his visit to Holy Kailash Yatra in Bhaderwah from Dudu-Basantgarh side through most beautiful lush green meadows of Seoj Dhar along with a group of people and his stay at Bhaderwah town when he was an RSS Parcharak during his young age.
Two road projects connecting this major pilgrimage centre and most beautiful tourist destination Seoj, having great potential of snow skiing/winter games like Gulmarg, including one from Dudu-Kirchi-Seoj Dhar worth Rs 83 crores and 36 kms in length and another one, 11 kms from Chhatergalla to Seoj Dhar worth Rs 19 crores, await clearance from the Forest and Wildlife Departments for the last several years.
Official sources told the Excelsior that R&B Division Bhaderwah during 2012-13 had proposed the construction of 11 kms road project worth Rs 19 crores and submitted to the Government for clearance from Forest department. While from Bhaderwah town distance of Kailash Kund on foot track via Seoj is about 17 kms, from Chhatergalla point on Bhaderwah-Bani Road, it is hardly 6.5 kms on-foot.
The Forest department is reluctant to accord clearance to this project, claiming that a large number of trees are involved. Now, after creation of new Wildlife Sanctuary in Sarthal-Bani area in 2019, the Wildlife authorities too have rejected the proposal on one pretext or the other. Even the R&B Division Bhaderwah has changed the alignment and dumping sites as well on the objections of the Wildlife authorities, yet the clearance is awaited from the Wildlife Department.
Executive Engineer, Bhaderwah Division, Tanzeer Khan when contacted said that they have made some changes in the project as suggested by the Wildlife Department and even changed alignment at several places to save maximum number of trees. Other precautions about presence of Wildlife species and their safety will also be their priority. He said this project is awaiting clearance for the last several years.
Khan said this road will expose this beautiful area to tourists not only from J&K but also from Punjab, Himachal, Delhi and northern India. Apart from Kailash pilgrims during one month long yatra, a large number of nomads stay there for summer months and this road will be linked with proposed Dudu Basantgarh- Seoj Dhar road, having direct link of Udhampur district with Bhaderwah in Doda district and Bani-BasohIi in Kathua.
Giving details of 36 kms Dudu (Kirchi)-Seoj Dhar in Bhaderwah road, Executive Engineer, PMGSY, Satish Bhagat said this road was conceived during 2017 and the work was started in 2018. This road project worth Rs 83 crores is facing major crisis as Forest and Wildlife departments have yet to give clearance. Joint survey by the Forest and R&B departments was conducted twice and alignment was also changed but clearance is yet awaited for the last over 3-4 years. The entire information was also uploaded on ‘Parivesh Portal’ but both the departments are not clearing their objections just delaying the project on one or the other pretext, he regretted.
Bhagat said that on first 5 kms road stretch, from Kirchi to Thildu in Dudu, the earth and mettling work has been completed. About 16 kms road needs Forest clearance and 8 kms stretch a nod from Wildlife Department. As and when the clearance will be granted, the work will be resumed further, he added.
Chief Wildlife Warden J&K, S K Gupta on being contacted said that Sarthal- Bani Wildlife Sanctuary area falls along the alignment of these roads. The R&B department and PMGSY have been asked to clear the objections and submit the report. He said after they act upon the guidelines and make desired changes, the report will be forwarded by the J&K UT Wildlife Council to the National Wildlife Board for final approval.
Former MLA Ramnagar and senior BJP leader, R S Pathania said that about 25000 pilgrims from Ramnagar, Dudu, Basangarh and Latti side go to Kailash yatra from Dudu side via Seoj Dhar and it takes about two to three days on-foot to reach Kailash Kund and two days in back journey. Over 50,000 pilgrims come from Bhaderwah, Doda, Kishtwar, Chamba, Bani, Mchhedi, Basohli and Billawar side every year. If road is constructed up to Seoj Dhar, it would be hardly one or two kms journey up to Kailash Kund on foot. It will help many pilgrims to visit this spiritual and holy place of Lord Shiva which is also the source of rivers- Tawi, Ujh and Neeru.
Apart from its spiritual significance, this place has great tourism potential. There are vast lush green meadows on Seoj Dhar having seven Kunds (Sarovars), major attraction for tourists. During winter season many winter games like Gulmarg can be conducted at this place. Moreover, this road would provide direct connectivity with Bhaderwah where students from remote Dudu-Basantgarh and Latti areas can reach Bhaderwah University (JU Campus) to attain higher studies. They can make up and down journey on daily basis as well.
Pathania also referred to the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme of PM Narendra Modi, wherein, he mentioned about his visit to Kailash Yatra in Bhaderwah from Dudu side when he was RSS Parcharak. He also mentioned about the fascinating beauty of Seoj Dhar, one of the best in the world and recalled his stay at Bhaderwah town. Pathania regretted that even DDC Member from Latti-Dudu area, Pinki Devi had sent representation to Principal Secretary R&B and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha recently seeking resumption of work on this road. Ex-MLA said if Mughal Road can be constructed through Heerpur Wildlife Sanctuary and several similar roads in Kashmir, then why Wildlife and Forest authorities are creating unnecessary hurdles in these road projects. He sought intervention of Union Minister in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha into the matter.
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