Srinagar: PDP leader Iltija Mufti on Wednesday said quality and preservation of the cave shrine of Amarnath must take precedence over quantity as the ongoing annual yatra crossed the one-lakh mark in the first five days of the pilgrimage.
More than 1.15 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the ice lingam of Lord Shiva at the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine so far.
“According to official figures, over 1.13 Lakh performed darshan in the first five days itself. Which means an average of 22,000 per day while the SC (Supreme Court) limits it to 10,000 a day. Quality & preservation of the holy cave must take precedence over quantity & disappearance,” she said on X.
Mufti said that only a week into the Amarnath Yatra, the naturally formed lingam had already melted. “Climate change from mindlessly axing trees, illegal mining, waste mismanagement and dangerous depletion of water levels is a major factor. Unfortunately, the environment has become a casualty of Kashmir’s politics. It has no power currency. For our mountains, rivers, and glaciers to survive, we need a long-term sustainable environmental and tourism policy. Much like Bhutan. Otherwise, Kashmir will cease to exist,” she said.
She said the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) must consider that the site itself is “precariously situated inside a cave surrounded by snow-capped mountains and glaciers”.
“A site of monumental significance for Hindus which has existed since the 12th century. But there’s been a sad acceleration of certain measures such as unnecessary construction, massive footfall of devotees and an ambitious ropeway project that could wreak havoc here,” said Ms. Mufti.
She said the Amarnath Yatra is deeply intertwined with the ethos of Kashmiriyat and that yatris are always welcome. “But for this tradition to survive and continue, I hope SASB treats this revered spot with more mindfulness and greater consideration. Lest we forget there was a time when the naturally formed snow sculpture lasted well beyond the Yatra duration itself,” she said.
The annual Amarnath Yatra began on July 3 and will conclude on August 28. Pilgrims reach the cave shrine, located at an altitude of 3,888 metres, through the twin routes of Baltal in central Kashmir and Pahalgam in south Kashmir.
