Protests Escalate Against Vaishno Devi Ropeway Project, Sangharsh Samiti Announces Katra Bandh

Katra (The Uttam Hindu): Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti has called for Katra Bandh on Wednesday in protest against the Vaishno Devi ropeway project. The committee is opposing the Tarakot ropeway project. Officials of Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti said that all shopkeepers including hotel, guest house, taxi, auto drivers will gather at Shalimar Park at 11 am and decide the future strategy. Congress and PDP have also announced to support this protest.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board had decided to go ahead with the passenger ropeway project on the 12 km route between Tarakote Marg and Sanjhi Chhat at a cost of Rs 250 crore. Shopkeepers, porters and palanquin bearers along the Yatra route along with local people are opposing the project. They fear loss of their livelihood.

Those opposing the project claim that the ropeway will bypass Katra's market, which could affect thousands of shopkeepers who depend on the movement of pilgrims. They believe that the opening of the ropeway could threaten their livelihood.

Earlier on December 15, hundreds of protesters had marched in the main market of Katra and raised slogans against the temple board for setting up the ropeway project. The protesters were demanding the release of persons arrested after clashes with the police last month over the ropeway project.

The protests had started last month when shopkeepers, labourers and porters and palanquin operators held a four-day demonstration against the temple board's decision to go ahead with the ropeway project. Vaishno Devi Trek Mazdoor Union president Bhupinder Singh Jamwal had once announced a shutdown on December 18. He had said five members of the committee would sit on a hunger strike.