Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, January 5
Amidst widespread protests across the country against the Jharkhand government’s decision on turning Shri Sammed Shikharji Tirth in the state a tourist spot, the central government on Thursday ordered a halt to all such activities in the larger Parasnath Hills where it is located.
The holy place lies in the eco-sensitive zone of Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary and Topchanchi Wildlife Sanctuary. Earlier on Thursday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote to the Centre, seeking “appropriate decisions” on its 2019 notification. According to state tourism secretary Manoj Kumar, the state government, in the 2019 notification, designated 200 locations, including Shri Sammed Shikharji, as a tourist destination for “administrative convenience”.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav held a meeting with different representatives of Jain Community for discussing the entire issue and also the possible solution. He underlined that the Ministry recognized that “Sammed Shikharji Parvat Kshetra” is a sacred Jain religious place not only for the Jain community but also for the entire country. The Ministry is committed to maintaining its sanctity, he added.
The ministry issued an official memorandum asking the Jharkhand government to stop ecologically harmful activities at the site with immediate effect. The state government has been instructed to strictly enforce the relevant provisions Management Plan of the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary that specifically prohibit damage to flora or fauna; coming with pet animals; playing loud music or use loudspeakers; defiling sites or religious and cultural significance such as, sacred monuments, lakes, rocks, caves, and shrines; and sale of liquor, drugs, and other intoxicants etc; unauthorised camping and trekking etc on the Parasnath Hill.
