The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday directed the Rajasthan government to remove tiles from the 'kacha' path of Govardhan Parvat parikrama and restore it to its original form.
A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore said that 'kacha' path for parikarma for pilgrims in its original form (with mud) has to be retained because when a parikarma is done on bare foot for 21 kms, hard surface made of cement tiles or the tar road make it all the more difficult for pilgrims to walk.
"Moreover, we assume that the officers of State of Rajasthan posted at Bharatpur and Deeg are fully aware of the fact that parikarma of Giriraj Parvat is barefoot, as well as, by lying down on the stomach (Dandwat)," the bench said.
"In such a situation, it is obvious that any hard surface of parikarma would not only create difficulty to the pilgrims but would also cause a lot of inconvenience particularly in summer season," it said.
The cement tiles should be removed and the path should be kept in the original form, the tribunal said, adding that the debris must be removed from the site within two weeks.
"We direct that the 'kacha' path of parikarma should be without any tiles so as to bring to its original form and debris be removed, within two weeks from today and send a compliance report to the tribunal," the bench said.
The tribunal had earlier directed the divisional commissioner and the SP of Bharatpur and the SDO-Deeg to apprise it about constructions being raised in the non-construction zone by Rajasthan.
The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Mathura-based 'Giriraj Parikrama Sanrakshan Sansthan' and others seeking compliance of the NGT's August 4, 2015, directions.
The organisation had raised the issue of civic authorities discharging sewage and municipal waste into ponds and other water bodies in Govardhan.
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