Arun Jàsrotia
Katra,TDD, the bustling town that serves as the gateway for pilgrims heading to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, has come to a standstill today in response to a call for a bandh by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti.
The protest targets the proposed Rs 250-crore ropeway project aimed at linking Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat, which locals say threatens their livelihoods.
“We rely on the steady flow of pilgrims for our survival. If this ropeway comes through, it will destroy everything we have built,” said Ramesh Sharma, a local shopkeeper. Sunita Devi, who runs a pony service, echoed similar concerns: “This project will leave many of us unemployed. How will we feed our families?”
The Sangharsh Samiti, representing the interests of traders, hoteliers, and service providers, argues that the ropeway will divert pilgrims from the traditional trekking route, causing local businesses, including pony and palanquin services, to collapse.
Despite having given the government a 15-day ultimatum to cancel the project, protesters say their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. “We are not against progress, but we cannot sacrifice our livelihoods for it,” said Rajiv Gupta, a local activist leading the protests.
While the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which is overseeing the project, claims the ropeway will offer a safer and quicker option for pilgrims, the local community remains adamant that it threatens Katra’s economic foundation and undermines the traditional pilgrimage experience.
With protests escalating, including rallies and hunger strikes, locals are demanding a written assurance from authorities that the project will be scrapped. “This is about our survival,” Gupta emphasized, vowing that protests would continue and intensify if their demands are not met. (TDD)
