The Central government has decided to intervene in the ongoing agitation to oppose construction of a ropeway to Bijli Mahadev shrine, one of the most revered places of Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh.
The state government has started building a ropeway to the shrine situated on a steep hill, which at present is visited by devotees by trekking nearly 4 kilometers covered in 4 to 5 hours.
Many environmentalists are strongly opposing the Ropeway Project as several hundred green trees, including deodars trees, are being cut for the project and they also apprehend this would also disturb the fragile ecology and structure of the mountains.
More so, as frequent cloud bursts and flash floods have created havoc in the region during the monsoon rains.
Several religious organizations and local people have also formed the Bijli Mahadev Sangharsh Samiti to oppose the project as they feel a large number of tourists visiting the shrine would disturb their culture, religious traditions and sanctity of the place .
The Samiti had also approached the Central government to intervene in the matter to stop this project .
The Central government has decided a three-member committee headed by Union Health Minister JP Nadda will hold talks with the Bijli Mahadev Sangharsh Samiti, in New Delhi on November 3.
Meanwhile a congregation of hundreds of deities has warned through their oracles not to disturb the nature of Kullu valley and to turn religious places into picnic spots as this may have bad effects.
