Girnar Mountain Ropeway Project - still not starting because another clearance pending

Junagadh City Girnar Parvat project was cleared by central Environment and Forest ministry in last February, but basic works of building the ropeway have yet not started because the company Usha Breco is now waiting for one more clearance – the last of all clearances – from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) formed by the Supreme Court of India.

It’s expecting clearance for its proposal to build Girnar ropeway in three months time.

This clearance is must for starting construction activity in sanctuary area.

If someone goes to appeal against the ropeway project, the clearance process may delay.

It was in the background of the tremendous pressure on forests and the unsustainable removals and the real threat of massive destruction of wildlife habitat that the Supreme Court of India intervened and constituted Central Empowered Committee on May 9th, 2002.

The CEC presently comprises of the following six members:

Mr. P. V. Jayakrishanan, Chairman
Mr. M.K. Jiwrajka, Member
Mr. Mahendra Vyas, Member
Mr. M.K. Muthoo, Member
Mr. S.K. Patnaik, Member
Mr. P.J. Dilip Kumar, DGF & SS, Member

Junagadh Urban Development Authority Tourism News Gujarat India

In a state witnessing fast urbanisation, the Junagadh Urban Development Authority (JUDA), set up in July 2008, is yet to undertake even the basic exercises for town planning and expansion due to absence of technical staff.

Though the state government had appointed an executive officer in December 2009, the official is not in a position to start any project in the absence of town planner, surveyors, land record keeper, accountants and other supporting staff required for an urban development agency.

Junagadh City Local BJP MLA Mahendra Mashru said that Gujarat State Urban Development Minister Nitin Patel has promised him to appoint these staff and personnel as soon as possible. But Junagadh Deputy Mayor Girish Kotecha, a Congressman, said that so much delay in the appointments indicates step-motherly treatment meted out to the town located near Somnath Mandir and Gir National Park, the last habitat of Asiatic lions.

JUDA executive officer Jayesh Gadhia admitted that he alone could not undertake the works of an urban development agency. He said the government had sanctioned a total of 27 staff, including himself for JUDA but they were yet to be appointed. “I am hopeful that I will get my staff as early as possible,” he said.

While Patel refused to comment on the required appointments, saying, “it is JUDA chairman’s duty to arrange staff’’, Junagadh District Collector A R Parmar, who heads the Authority, said he was waiting for staff.

Kotecha said that against financial allocations of Rs 100 crore each for municipal corporations of Bhavnagar City and Jamnagar City for 2010-11, merely Rs 25 crore have been allocated for the JMC. He said the JMC, which came into being in 2004, required more funds for development to meet the requirements of lakhs of pilgrims visiting temples at nearby Girnar Hills every year.

The Bhavnagar Municipal Corporation, Jamnagar Municipal Corporation and Junagadh Municipal Corporation have 17 wards each and 51 corporators, with each ward electing three corporators. According to Kotecha, the areas on the outskirts of the city could be developed properly if JUDA began town planning schemes, with plans for roads and other amenities.

Girnar Arohan Avarohan Spardha – Climbing Competition Junagadh City News

Third National Level Girnar Arohan Avarohan Spardha, which hold at Girnar Parvat in Historical Junagadh City at 21st February – 2010 has emerged winners in the senior men's section and junior girls section named Ramesh Solanki and his sister Poonam Solanki.

Both are residents of Tad village in Junagadh district, won prizes in the competition held last year also.

To climb and declimb 5500 steps from the base to the Ambaji Shikhar on the Girnar Mountain for the men's section, while the female competitors had to climb and step down 2200 steps from the base to Mali Parab.

The Cash Prize for winner in each group is Rs 50,000 and for runner up Rs 25,000.

Sagar Kataria, from a harijan youth who make out a living by selling fruits on a handcart, emerged the top winner in senior men's section (18-40 year group) climbing and declimbing 5,500 steps in 58 minutes 11 seconds while Ramesh Solanki stood on second spot as he could make the feat only in 58 minutes 12 seconds.

In male junior section (14-18 year group), Haresh Pandit stood first clocking 59 minutes 28 seconds while Rajesh Chouhan finished it in 59 minutes 40 seconds.

In senior female section, New Delhi-based railway employee Kamlesh Baghel won climbing 2,200 steps in 38 minute 14 seconds, while Varsha Karingya of Junagadh stood second clocking 38 minutes 41 second.

In junior girls section, Madhuben Chouhan emerged top clocking 38 minutes 15 seconds while Poonam Solanki stood second finishing in 38 minutes 23 seconds.

Girnar Mountain Temples Climbing Competition News Saurashtra Gujarat India

State level Girnar climbing race on 3rd January 2010.

The annual state level Girnar climbing race will be held on 3rd January.

The competition this year has attracted 1496 applications for participation from 18 districts of the state. Of this 1022 applications are from Junagadh districts.

Due to increased distance of race, this year, the competition has received 299 lesser applications compare to last year.

The Mount Girnar is tallest peak of Gujarat. Every year state level and national level competitions are held here. The participants run on steps that are well constructed on the hill to reach atop.

Girnar Lili Parikrama Shivratri Mela Junagadh City News Gujarat India

Girnar Parikrama draws thousands in Rajkot City.

Junagadh City, one of the most important Historical Places in Gujarat, draws the attention of thousands of travelers from across the state during Shivratri Mela, Girnar parikrama and Girnar climbing competition. Like every year, this year too, a large number of people across the state have come to the city for performing the 36-km 'Lili Parikrama' (spiritual walk) around the Girnar Parvat.

The parikrama, as usual, began on Thursday night, the day of Tulsi Vivah, also known as Dev Diwali, from the foot of the mountain, where the pilgrims spent the night. On Friday morning, the parikrama was started from Dudheshwar Mahadev temple.

They would spend the night at the Saint Jinabava's hut(Jinabava ni Madhi). The next day they would reach Malvela, the place surrounded by high climbers located in the midst of Girnar forest.

The next morning, they leave for southern forest and reach to Bordevi, temple of Goddess Ambika. On Tuesday morning, the pilgrims would return to Bhavnath Mandir Taleti at the foot of the mountain.

Authorities like Junagadh Municipal Corporation, health department, state transport, forest, water supply, police, in addition to social and religious organizations, are on the job of helping about one million pilgrims expected this year.

The event also attracts a large number of youngsters cutting across religious lines and regions. According to a popular belief, the Pandavas, after winning the war at Kurukshetra, did the 'parikrama' to seek God's blessings.

Though the event began on Thursday, about 68,000 piece-loving people had already completed their journey to avoid heavy traffic, sources said.

Girnar Mountain Parvat Temples Ropeway Project Junagadh News Gujarat India

Girnar Ropeway Project to temple put on hold to "save" vultures.

The Center has put on hold the proposed parvat ropeway project to Gujarat's religious shrine atop Mount Girnar citing threat to the nesting of endangered vultures in the region.

The Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife chaired by union environment minister Jairam Ramesh at a recent meeting has asked a team of conservationists to visit the site and study the impact of the proposed project before deciding its fate.

"Girnar wildlife sanctuary is the only known colony of long-billed vultures in Gujarat. If the ropeway passes through the trees housing vulture nests, it will be a disaster," Asad Rehmani, a prominent conservationist from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and committee member, said.

He said 121 vultures (long-billed and white-beaked species vultures) were counted in the region in 2005 which have declined to 79, according to the 2007 census.

He said the environment impact assessment report submitted by a private firm Usha Breco Ltd seeking to construct the ropeway was not factually correct with particular reference to faunal diversity of the area.

The committee also observed the project seeking diversion of around seven hectares of Girnar forest land was yet to get environmental clearance.

However, the Gujarat Wildlife Department, strongly arguing in favor of the project, said it would only ease the pressure on the wildlife created by visiting devotees who currently pass through the jungle to reach the holy shrine atop Girnar Parvat, Junagadh City.

Girnar Parvat Temples Hill Mountain Lili Parikrama Junagadh City News Gujarat India

Forest dept to keep strict vigil on Girnar Parvat Lili Parikrama.

No plastics allowed. Gas cylinders to be used for cooking - no wood to be used. The forest department has laid down these guidelines to minimize environmental damage that the Girnar Lili Parikrama may cause.

More than 90,000 yatris have started the parikrama which is officially scheduled to begin on Thursday, said Junagadh collector Ashwani Kumar. Lili Parikrama, as it's known in Saurashtra Kathiyavad, is an annual circular religious tour of Girnar by devotees.

Due to the efforts of the administration, police and forest department, yatris are now more conscious about the environment and understand why it's vital to save trees and protect the jungle. In the past, there have been incidents of forest fires and complaints of pollution.

Moreover, the Nalpani Ghodi forest department has set up counting points. Because of heavy rains this year, many roads were washed away and mud slides were reported.

Forest department has cleared and repaired roads on a war footing. Chlorinated water and milk are being provided on the way. Hawkers are not permitted. Police force is also on alert to provide security.

Girnar Temples Parvat Mountain Lili Parikrama Junagadh News Gujarat India

Enthusiasts begin Girnar Parvat Lili Parikrama ahead of schedule.

Two days before the 36-km historic Girnar Parikrama - the amazing annual religious walk when devotees tread mountainous terrain to worship at temples located in the dense forest area – will officially commence, over 50,000 enthusiasts have already started their walk uphill.

Packed trains and buses are arriving at Bhavnath, the starting point of the walk every hour. Over one lakh people have already reached Bhavnath, sources said.

"The official walk will be flagged off at 12 pm on October 29. However, eager participants have already started the walk on their own," a source at Bhavnath said. Some wish to avoid the rush of Lakhs of devotees and enjoy the three nights and four days of nature peacefully at their own pace," the source added.

Meanwhile, anticipating this, the district administration too had made arrangements by Tuesday morning. "Medical camps, water points, complete police security have all been put in place from Tuesday itself so that even early birds will get all the facilities," a district official said.

On its part, the forest department, which becomes the official host of the event, has also made all arrangements. District forest officer at Girnar Anita Karne said, "All arrangements are in place along the route from Bhavnath to Zina Bava ni Madhi to Malvela, Bordevi and back to Bhavnath.

It's the forest department's responsibility to see that the roads are made and security is maintained. We have done our best to ensure that the event goes off smoothly."

Appealing to people to conserve natural surroundings, Karne said, "We have repeatedly appealed to people to maintain cleanliness along the route. Special bins have been put up and people are requested to dispose of all solid waste in them. It's our collective responsibility to preserve the environment."

Uses of microphones by cultural groups who come to the parikrama have also been banned. "We have banned all loudspeakers since the last two years and have done our best to see that there's no noise pollution," Karne added.

Girnar Mountain Parvat Temples Lili Parikrama Junagadh City Gujarat India

If you are currently thinking or want to join this season Girnar Mountain Lili Parikrama, then just rust to Junagadh City, do not think more as this Historical city of Gujarat want to welcome you for this Event.

Here I want to share more detailed updates news with all mine blog visitors, which I read at one news site.

Pilgrims climbing their way up to mount Girnar will be treated with glasses of milk and water, while emergency medical services in makeshift hospitals will be on standby during annual event of Girnar Parikrama (pilgrimage).

The parikrama from October 29 to November 2 is an annual event in Kartik month of the Hindu calendar, when devotees beat 36 km of rough mountain terrain and jungles of mount Girnar by foot, to visit various religious spots along the way. To make this journey a smooth-sailing affair for devotees, the district administration leaves no stone unturned.

"The entire route of the parikrama has been personally inspected by district collector Ashwini Kumar, deputy conservator of forest Anita Karne and forest staff. An emergency meeting was held in which several orders regarding maintaining health and other facilities for the pilgrims were issued," said a district administrative official.

The administration decided to put up milk distributing centers at 13 places in Jhinabava Ni Madhi, Marvela, Bordevi, Itanva Ni Ghodi and Nalpani Na Besna places along the route of the parikrama.

"There will also be drinking water points erected at 36 places on the route by Junagadh Municipal Corporation. That apart, seven makeshift hospitals, four emergency ambulance services and four mobile units will be pressed into service to meet any eventuality during the event," said the official.

Junagadh RTO will be plying an extra 130 buses to ferry pilgrims from the city to Bhavnath, the starting point of the parikrama, while Western Railway, Junagadh division will be adding an extra four coaches to every Junagadh-bound train. There will also be a special train for Satadhar.

Junagadh fire brigade has been ordered to stand guard round-the-clock in the event of fire fighting to prevent any mishap on the parikrama route. Meanwhile, the forest department has urged pilgrims to stick to the route charted for them, in order not to protect environment and not to disturb wildlife.