Manali-Naggar, February 17
Though over 120 Gurs of over 230 devatas gave their verdict against the proposed $150 million Himalayan Ski Village in its present form at Naggar yesterday, the HSV company is pining its hopes on local deities, where the ski village is proposed to be set up, saying that neither HSV officials nor local deities were invited to attend the Jagati Puchh yesterday.
The dharam sansad today decided that the proposal of the HSV in its present form was unacceptable as it would ruin the “tapobhumi of devis, devtas and rishis who still govern the sacred peaks from Beas Kund to the Chandrakhani Pass located above Naggar.”
Pujaris are divided over the ski
village. They say that the main devta of the Hampta Pass, Jamadagni Rishi, Prini, and the Nag devtas were not present at the Jagati as at this time of month they do not come out of their temples.
Mr Khem Raj Thakur, an Everester, and resident of Prini village, said the ski village should come up as it would boost tourism in the Kulu valley. “However, I oppose the 300 huts in Setahn Thach. Besides, the pasture and the TD and the grazing rights of the locals should be protected,” he said.
Mr Igbal Sharma, Chairman, HSV, claimed that they were not invited officially to attend the Jagati.
The company would again seek the blessings of the local deities who had given it the go-ahead when it approached them. “The Hidimba Devi, Manali, Takshak Nag Devta, Bhanara, Fali Nag, Prini Jamadagni Rishi and Shabrani Mata have given us the go-ahead. We respect their view, ” he said.
Meanwhile, residents have charged
BJP and Congress leaders with whipping up the religious sentiments of god-fearing simple villagers over the issue.Gurs, pujaris and kadars are of the view that it is unfortunate that local leaders had dragged the devtas into politics.
HSV Director Ajay Dabra accused leaders of the Kardar Sangh and the Kulut Vikas Manch of adopting double standards and questioned why they did not call the Jagati when the Alain-Duhangan hydro project, which claimed over 3,000 trees, came up.
