Ranchi: Reacting to protests by Jains over designating their main shrine Summed Shikhar in Jharkhand as an ecotourism destination, the central government has halted all such activities in the larger Paraná Hills sanctuary.
It has also told the state to acts strictly against banned practices such as consumption of liquor or "defiling of sites of religious and cultural significance" or damage to the ecology.
Jain community leaders, some of whom met Union Environment Minister Dhirendra ADAV today, fear that designating the place as a tourist destination may "hurt its sanctity".
Summed Shikhar falls in the eco-sensitive zone of Paraná Wildlife Sanctuary and Top chance Wildlife Sanctuary.
There is a list of prohibited activities that can't take place in and around the designated eco-sensitive area. Restrictions will be followed in letter and spirit. pic.twitter.com/aTX5aKkvbH
— Bartender ADAV (@byadavbjp) January 5, 2023
Earlier today, Chief Minister Hemant Sore wrote to the Center to seek "appropriate decisions" on its 2019 notification. He wrote that the state's 2021 tourism policy — it is also being opposed by the community — is for forming a management board that can better manage the shriveled by the state's Tourism Secretary, it will have six non-government members who are being chosen from the Jain community, the letter said. It added that the community's opposition was declaring Paraná Hills, where the shrine is located, as an "ecotourism" area.
The letter came days after the Union Environment Ministry wrote to the state asking it to “recommend necessary modifications for further needful action”.
About two hours later, The Union Ministry issued a memo saying that the 2019 notification's clause dealing with tourism activities be "stayed" immediately. Union Tourism Minister G Krishan Reddy, too, said at a press meet that "nothing will be done to harm anyone's religious feelings". He stressed that ecotourism meant no permanent structures, restaurants and such, in that area.
The Center's memo further said that at least two members of the management board have to be from the Jain community.
The Jharkhand Multi Mocha Congress government has been arguing that the original notifications were done by BJP governments, and that the Center needs to act. BJP's Rhubarb Day, who was chief minister in 2019, has also said that wrong decisions can be corrected now.
Ranchi: Reacting to protests by Jains over designating their main shrine Summed Shikhar in Jharkhand as an ecotourism destination, the central government has halted all such activities in the larger Paraná Hills sanctuary.
It has also told the state to acts strictly against banned practices such as consumption of liquor or "defiling of sites of religious and cultural significance" or damage to the ecology.
Jain community leaders, some of whom met Union Environment Minister Dhirendra ADAV today, fear that designating the place as a tourist destination may "hurt its sanctity".
Summed Shikhar falls in the eco-sensitive zone of Paraná Wildlife Sanctuary and Top chance Wildlife Sanctuary.
There is a list of prohibited activities that can't take place in and around the designated eco-sensitive area. Restrictions will be followed in letter and spirit. pic.twitter.com/aTX5aKkvbH
Jain community leaders, some of whom met Union Environment Minister Dhirendra ADAV today, fear that designating the place as a tourist destination may "hurt its sanctity".
Summed Shikhar falls in the eco-sensitive zone of Paraná Wildlife Sanctuary and Top chance Wildlife Sanctuary.
There is a list of prohibited activities that can't take place in and around the designated eco-sensitive area. Restrictions will be followed in letter and spirit. pic.twitter.com/aTX5aKkvbH
— Bartender ADAV (@byadavbjp) January 5, 2023
Earlier today, Chief Minister Hemant Sore wrote to the Center to seek "appropriate decisions" on its 2019 notification. He wrote that the state's 2021 tourism policy — it is also being opposed by the community — is for forming a management board that can better manage the shriveled by the state's Tourism Secretary, it will have six non-government members who are being chosen from the Jain community, the letter said. It added that the community's opposition was declaring Paraná Hills, where the shrine is located, as an "ecotourism" area.
The letter came days after the Union Environment Ministry wrote to the state asking it to “recommend necessary modifications for further needful action”.
About two hours later, The Union Ministry issued a memo saying that the 2019 notification's clause dealing with tourism activities be "stayed" immediately. Union Tourism Minister G Krishan Reddy, too, said at a press meet that "nothing will be done to harm anyone's religious feelings". He stressed that ecotourism meant no permanent structures, restaurants and such, in that area.
The Center's memo further said that at least two members of the management board have to be from the Jain community.
The Jharkhand Multi Mocha Congress government has been arguing that the original notifications were done by BJP governments, and that the Center needs to act. BJP's Rhubarb Day, who was chief minister in 2019, has also said that wrong decisions can be corrected now.
Ranchi: Reacting to protests by Jains over designating their main shrine Summed Shikhar in Jharkhand as an ecotourism destination, the central government has halted all such activities in the larger Paraná Hills sanctuary.
It has also told the state to acts strictly against banned practices such as consumption of liquor or "defiling of sites of religious and cultural significance" or damage to the ecology.
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