The Yatra of the faithful and the politics of division

Javed Matjee 

Our correspondent updates us on what is happening in the valley. Understandably the Yatra to Amarnath is looked forward to but the unfortunate controversy surrounding the decision to allot 800 kanals of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board has generated debate and given occasion to many political outfits to once again occupy center stage. Also, find out what is happening to Dal lake the famed jewel of the valley. 

More then 21000 pilgrims have returned the base camp after having glimpse of Shiv Lingam at holy Ammarnath cave in Kashmir during first three days of the yatra. Most of these pilgrims had approached towards the cave even before the yatra officially commenced on Tuesday. Ten yatris have so for died enroute holy cave due to adverse road and weather conditions, official sources said. Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful yatra. Tension mounts as the land allotment to Ammarnath shrine board is widely resisted both by mainstream and separatist political and other circles.

Security arrangements made for this years Ammarnath yatra continue to dominate the scene. These arrangements have pushed actual pilgrimage,   to the rear seat. Sources in the state government say that more than one lakh armed personnel are being deployed to ensure safe yatra.. “A three tier cover has been arranged for the yatra”, sources said adding that 400 kilometers yatra route from Jammu to holey cave has been sanitized. Besides army and paramilitary forces a number of central and state police personnel are also deployed to safeguard the route and yatris. According to sources in the Ammarnath shrine board more than two lakh yatris have so for registered themselves for annual pilgrimage this year. The process of registration is on and is likely to last till July end.

Central Reserve Police (CRP) force has deployed 50 of its companies for yatra security. A CRPF spokesman told journalists this morning that 37 and 13 companies have been pressed into service in Kashmir and Jammu provinces respectively. Two women battalions are also part of vast security cover for the yatra. The government today ordered additional deployment of 10000 police personnel on pilgrimage duty. CRPF will take care of yatra routes from Jammu to Nunwan and Baltal. 500 especially trained Jammu Kashmir police commandos have also been deployed at high peaks enroute holey cave. The army has set up 97 special posts in the way.

The first batch of 2883  yatris, including 778 women, 174 children and 67 Sadhus reached Kashmir this evening aimed tightest ever security arrangements .The first batch which reached base camp this evening traveled in 59 buses and 29 LMVs and will leave for holey cave  tomorrow morning. Preparations for the yatra have touched climax and Nunwan near world famous health resort Pahalgam, has turned into a “tent town”. It may be mentioned here that Nunwan acts as base camp for the annual yatra. All hotels, huts and tents at the base camp are house full.. Langers have been established for devotees all along the route to holey cave.

State government has made all arrangements for the yatra in addition to security. Transport, drinking water, sanitation and medical facilities are being made available to yatris. The state government expects record number of pilgrims this year. The state health minister Pandit Mangat Ram Sherma said that state government is expecting about three lakh people from different parts of country to participate in this year’s yatra. “We have made overall arrangements for the yatra and it is ensured that every yatri feels comfort”, the Pandit added.

Unlike past no militant outfit has imposed any ban or restriction on yatra this year. However if intelligence inputs are to be believed, the allotment of 800 kanals of forest land to Ammarnath shrine board has rendered this years yatra vulnerable. The state government recently made this allotment to board to raise permanent infrastructure for the yatra. Barring Congress party almost all pro-India as well as separatist political organizations have opposed the move terming the allotment as violation of article 370. Article 370 of constitution of India prohibits purchase of any immovable property by any non-state subject individual or group in Jammu Kashmir. The Ammarnath Shrine Board is headed by state governor who acts as ex-officio chairman of the Board. Intelligence sources say that allotment of land may have annoyed the militants and they may try to strike during the yatra. “We have made foolproof   security arrangements for the yatra and no one shall be allowed to disrupt the pilgrimage”, Inspector General of Police Kashmir Mr. Sahai said.

However, for the first time in the history of Jammu Kashmir, the infighting between state government and Rajbhawan has reached in the court of law. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a collation partner of the congress party today  posed serious allegations against the outgoing Governor Gen. (R) S. K. Sinha saying that the constitutional head leaves no stone unturned in creating communal and regional  gulf between people in Jammu Kashmir. The party also announced filing of a suit against Governor’s principal secretary Arun Kumar, IAS, who is ex-officio secretary of Ammarnath shrine board in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate here.

Addressing a press conference here  senior PDP leader and state Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh termed the role played by outgoing Governor  as anti people and anti Kashmir. “The communal approach adopted by outgoing Governor has brought warring Hurriyat conference factions to join hands” Beigh said adding that during the tenure of Gen. (R) Sinha the Rajbhawan was converted into a hub of political activities. The Deputy Chief Minister alleged that before leaving the state, Sinha attempted to create communal wedge between masses, which Beigh said does not suit a constitutional head. Beigh added that Governors activities were highly objectionable and PDP was committed to resist such activities. He also alleged that some government officials posted in the Rajbhawan were interfering in the affairs of state government..

Referring to recent press conference by Governor Sinha’s principal secretary Arun Kumar, the senior PDP leader said that allotment of land to shrine board was temporary and conditional. “If the board fails to handover the possession of land back to state government after conclusion of yatra, it (board) has to pay fine”, he said. Beigh also informed media persons that his party has filed a case against Arun Kumar in a court here under section 153 A of Ranbir Panel Code (RPC). The section pertains to creation of gulf between different sections of people and warrants a punishment of imprisonment and fine or both. The case has been filed in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Srinagar Mr. Mohammad Ibraheem.

Such a happening has been recorded for the first time in the history of state that a major partner in the state government has knocked the door of law against its own Rajbhawan. The controversy between Governor Sinha and PDP is as old as the PDP government itself. Three years of Mufti Mohammad Syed’s chief ministership were tough for both the Governor as well as chief minister in views of their known differences. The allotment of 800 kanals of forest land to Amaranth shrine board in the valley was last nail in the coffin of PDP-Sinha rift.

Most of the observers however believe that PDP noise against land allotment is merely an eye wash. Being partner in the government, the party is equally responsible in the allotment affair. This type of situation has also widened gulf between PDP and the congress though both enjoy partnership in the government. A senior congress leader and state social welfare minister Abdul Gani Vakil has a valid point in support of his argue against his rival partner PDP. “If the party (PDP) really meant  opposing the allotment, it should have asked its half a dozen cabinet ministers to resist the decision in the cabinet meeting in which the allotment of land in favor of board was finalized”, says Vakil. It is believed that PDP makes out of proposition sound over the issue in view of ensuing assembly elections.

Meanwhile PDP today came under heavy attack from its arch political rival the National Conference (NC). The NC patron and former state Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah alleged that PDP had a secret understanding with shrine board in the allotment affair. Taking a U turn from his earlier stand Dr. Abdullah termed allotment of land to board as unconstitutional. Addressing media persons here he demanded immediate revocation of allotment saying if his party came to power after forthcoming elections, it will not only cancel the deal but will also bring  all the Hindu Muslim shrine boards under the preview of accountability. He expressed regattas that Amaranth yatra has been politicized.

In yet another significant development the land allotment issue has made wonders for the separatists as well. Two warring factions of separatist political amalgam Hurriyat conference joined hands to jointly oppose the allotment of land to shrine board. Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who head the rival factions of the amalgam, had a six hour long meeting at formers residence to chalk out ‘joint strategy’ on the issue. This is for the first time in past about four years that the duo met and decided to adopt common strategy on any issue. There are indications that both the factions may forge unity and again form a single platform.

The Dal is dying!

The world famous Dal Lake is no more a crown in the beautiful jewel of Kashmir. Even if poet Iqbal gets a chance to witness the changed kaleidoscope of this lake, he may think to amend his verse citing Kashmir as paradise on earth. The lake had an area of 24 square kms.    It is now mere 12 square kms. This is despite the fact that state government has shown a huge expenditure of about 250 crore rupees having been spent to ‘protect’ and ‘develop’ the lake.

Dal was a major source of solace for all domestic as well as foreign tourists who would come to Kashmir to enjoy its beauty. Running shikaras (small boats used to carry men and material from one spot to other within the Dal waters) and huge houseboats have been star attractions within the Dal for centuries all together. Water lotuses have stopped blooming in the Dal in view of detoriating quality of water. Similarly the huge chinars within the lake are no more green and moon light also no more reflects in the Dal water which used to be crystal clear in the past.

The Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), responsible body to take care of water bodies in Kashmir has come under severe criticism for its failure in preserving the Dal Lake. Under the aegis of LAWDA, the open area of the Lake has reduced to 12 square kilometers (2006) from 24 square kilometers (1962). The average depth of the lake has also reduced to three meters, with no significant improvement in the overall health of the Lake despite incurring expenditure of Rs. 235.70 crore. During past two decades. The LAWDA has in fact become a gold mine for many of its officials and other   state government functionaries. Dal is a point of politics too. Most of the people who have encroached    upon Dal areas either enjoy political backing or act as vote bank for political parties.

Experts have time and again raised their concern against existence of hotels and houseboats in and around the lake. The experts opine that these structures are major threat to Dal as all wastes from hotels and houseboats enter the lake. There are more than 350 houseboats registered with state tourism department. A houseboat is a wooden hotel with 5 to 15 rooms resting on the water. The chain of hotels around the lake also through all sorts of wasted in the Dal making it more vulnerable.

Problems like excessive weed growth, deterioration in water quality, discharge of sewage/nutrients into the Lake body and deposition of silt persisted have posed additional threat to lake’s existence.  According to Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report under Lake Conservation Programme, against a target of acquiring 4,580 kannals of hamlet land, and 3,741 structures, only 590 kannals of land   and 528 structures    had been acquired as of March 2006. According to report progress in this regard has been mere 13 and 14 percent. The report was recently tabled in the state assembly in just concluded session.

According to experts the main cause of decrease in the depth of Dal is entrance of silt in the lake which has alarmingly increased.  It is pointed out that despite undertaking Catchments area Management Works, the rate at which silt had entered the Lake has increased from 7,254 tones per year to 22,354 tones per year. The increase has been recorded on the basis of facts and figures between 1998 and 2003. Due to destruction of their breeding ground and other environmental stress, the fish species had undergone decrease in their size and population. It has been indicated that the failure of the LAWDA to ascertain the use of the acquired land in the Master Plan of Srinagar City prior to acquisition, rendered the expenditure of Rs. 8.32 crore useless. An amount of Rs. 6.78 crore was spent on harvesting and de-weeding activities from 1997 to 2006.

The Research conducted by University of Kashmir has pointed out that the mechanical de-weeding had an adverse effect on the health of the Lake as there was undesirable growth of flora and fauna. In fact, the Laboratory wing of the Authority itself had pointed out that the de-weeding operation had proved to be just “Cosmetic Treatment”.   In spite of these findings the operations were continued. It has been reported that the soil tests conducted around the Lake had established presence of heavy metals like manganese, copper, lead, nickel, cadmium, and arsenic in the Lake body.

Apart from these alarming disclosures about the health of the Lake,    the experts have commented adversely on the overall performance of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority.  They have recommended establishment of a fool proof monitoring mechanism to oversee the implementation of works as well as setting up of a system of surveillance/vigilance to report cases of encroachment which must be dealt with firmly.

Of late the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has intervened to save   Dal Lake. It has decided to monitor all activities which are taking place in connection with the lake. The High court has also taken a dig at state government and some of its agencies connected to welfare of Dal Lake. More than 50,000 trees fell down in and around the lake after court directed to do so in order to stop illegal constructions and encroachments under the shadow of trees. In fact the court intervention has given birth to new hopes that what ever portion of the Dal is existing now, may sustain.