The agitation to oppose the ropeway project to Bijli Mahadev in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh is turning out to be a fight of one-upmanship between BJP leaders of the area and Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur.
The state government is constructing a ropeway across River Beas from Pirdi to Bijli Mahadev, which thousands of devotees reach by trekking nearly 4 kms steep hill to pay obeisance at the shrine of Bijli Mahadev.
As people have to trek a steep hill and elderly devotees find the climb quite difficult, the demand to build a ropeway has been raised for a long time.
Though mooted several decades back the state government has now started a ropeway project from Pirdi to Bijli Mahadev, which would save the devotees from trekking a steep climb of 4kms saving time too as it takes 3 to 4 hours in reaching the shrine .
As soon as the work started on the project a section of local people started opposing the ropeway project by forming the Bijli Mahadev Sangharsh Samiti.
The Sangarsh Samiti has been holding protests and recently had given a call of trade bandh in Kullu bazaar.
Ram Singh, leader of the Sangharsh Samiti said, “The ropeway to Bijli Mahadev will hurt the religious feelings of local devotees as increase in inflow of visitors will compromise with the sanctity of the deity as utmost cleanliness and strict norms have to be followed in the shrine area.”
“The Sangharsh Samiti is also flagging environmental issues as 70 deodar trees have been cut and totel 203 trees are to be axed, seriously impacting the environment; more so as protecting trees and environment have become most crucial with natural disasters playing havoc in the region.”
The Samiti has also tried to rope in the deity in their struggle by seeking a verdict through hjs oracle but Kardar Sangh has disassociated from the Sangharsha Samiti recently.
Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur is of the firm opinion the ropeway project will be a bid relief to devotees and boost tourism generating additional income to the state.
However many people feel opposition to the ropeway is a fight for political one-upmanship between BJP and Congress leaders . Preserving a religious sanctity and environment is important, they say.
Meanwhile the Sangharsh Samiti has decided to take their struggle to the National Capital by holding a protest at Jantar – Mantar, New Delhi on Friday (August 29), against the ropeway project.
3 thoughts on “Devotion enviornment and politics collide over Bijli Mahadev ropeway proejct”
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you should have been invite our view point on this issue. Have you seen the DPR of this project, you should do. These supporters and opposeres are in same boat. If you want to take our versions, that us NO MEANS NO.
“The ropeway may bring tourists and revenue, but if it destroys forests and sanctity, it’s a loss, not progress. Sadly, leaders are turning it into a political duel instead of protecting the fragile Himalayas and respecting local voices.”
The ropeway may bring tourists and revenue, but if it destroys forests and sanctity, it’s a loss, not progress. Sadly, leaders are turning it into a political duel instead of protecting the fragile Himalayas and respecting local voices.