Pilgrims say denotification will make things easier

Nagpur: Devotees who trek tough terrains during the Nagdwar and Mahadev pilgrimage have welcomed the move for diverting forest land from the Satpuda Tiger Reserve (STR). According to them, the de-notification will result in smooth conduct of the pilgrimage and also solve problems faced by pilgrims. From drinking water and food to shelter and medical facilities — pilgrims complain that providing basic amenities is a challenge due to restrictions imposed by forest department.“Many sick and old devotees as well as female pilgrims with infants take up the 28km journey. With lack of basic facilities, the already difficult yatra becomes more troublesome,” said a pilgrim.
President of Shree Nagdwar Swami Seva Mandal Sudhakar Ambilkar said that organizing the pilgrimage in the interest of devotees is not possible till the area comes under tiger reserve. “The rules are so strict that we can’t even provide proper resting place or food to devotees. Moreover, Nagdwar is open for devotees only during Nag Panchami. We hope to get some relaxations with the proposal,” he added.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) standing committee chairman Sudhir Raut said that the de-notification is needed to increase the period of annual fair. “It is a long journey in which lakhs of people participate. Opening it for hardly seven days is not enough,” he added.
Raut further said that the government has no intention of damaging forest or wildlife. “We have no intention of concretizing the area. We just want to make things easier for pilgrims. City MP Nitin Gadkari was keen that facilities be provided for the devotees as most of them are from his constituency. Hence, he made the request to the environment minister,” said Raut.
Baban Nakhale, head of DNC’s journalism department and a regular pilgrim, said that a pakka road should be constructed for the safety of people. “Improper sanitation facilities lead to unhygienic conditions at the pious site. If proper facilities are provided, it can be developed as a major attraction for families,” he said.