Haven’t declared Amarnath a silent zone, clarifies NGT: 

Haven’t declared Amarnath a silent zone, clarifies NGT: 

 Context

The National Green Tribunal on Thursday clarified its orders on ‘maintaining silence’ around the Amarnath shrine and said that its previous order had not been “correctly reported in different quarters”.

Only asked devotees to remain quiet in front of the shivling’

• The only restriction that the Tribunal had placed and which is now reiterated to provide complete clarity is that the devotee or anyone standing in front of the Amarnath shivling shall maintain silence
• Further, the Bench said the restrictions had been imposed keeping in mind the adverse effects that noise, heat and vibration can have on the natural formation.

One-way queue

• Additionally, the Bench directed that a one-way queue of visitors had to be maintained at the shrine.
• “On the last stairs, approximately 30 steps leading to the holy cave, it should be ensured that no person or pilgrim carries any material as it is already the practice of the Board,” said the Bench.
• The NGT has directed all the authorities, including the State of Jammu and Kashmir and the Amarnath Shrine Board, to comply with the orders.