New Delhi,
Only 50,000 pilgrims will be allowed to visit the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu daily to avoid any untoward incident, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed today.

The green panel also said a new path to the shrine, exclusively for pedestrians and battery-operated cars, would be opened from November 24. It directed that no horses or mules would be allowed on the new route to the shrine and these animals would be removed slowly from the old path as well.

It also directed the authorities to impose a fine (environment compensation) of Rs 2,000 on anyone found littering the roads or the bus stop at Katra town.

The NGT Bench, headed by chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, said if the number of pilgrims exceeded the 50,000 cap, they would be stopped at Ardhkuwari or Katra town, considering that the Vaishno Devi Bhawan structure could not accommodate more than 50,000 persons.

The panel’s directions came during the hearing of a plea filed by activist Gauri Maulekhi, seeking directions to stop the use of horses and ponies on shrine premises, prompting the green panel to seek a response from the government on the issue.