SRINAGAR; 19, Aug 2012: The Government today clarified that there is no truth in the reports published in some Newspapers about the directions issued by the Supreme Court (SC) for construction of road to Shri AmarNath Cave or execution of a Gandola project there. This was disclosed by the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affair, Abdul Rahim Rather at a press conference at Banquet Hall, Srinagar today.

Rather said that the Supreme Court has constituted a Special High Powered Committee(SHPC) headed by Governor of J&K State, ,who is also the Chairman of Shri Amar Nath Shrine Board. The SHPC has to visit the site, examine various issues and submit its report to the Supreme Court, adding that the next date of hearing is on September 10, 2012.

Rather clarified that Supreme Court has actually identified seven issues relating to medical facilities, protection of environment, amenities at base camps and enroute the cave, method for collection and disposal of domestic and human waste, facilities available for treating cardiac arrest and other heart related problems and measures for handling huge crowd and seven times the number of yatris were allowed to visit the cave in a day.