Governor reviews Amarnath yatra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 21

Governor NN Vohra, who is also the chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, on Wednesday reviewed the arrangements for the forthcoming yatra, which is scheduled to commence on June 28 and conclude on August 26.

The review meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to Governor Umang Narula and shrine board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bhupinder Kumar, Additional CEO RK Pandita, General Manager (Works) and other officials concerned.

In regard to the status of advance registration, the Governor was informed that it started on March 1 through 440 branches of PNB, J&K Bank and YES Bank in 32 states/UTs all over the country. In addition, former Indian pilgrims have been allowed to register through PNB and the group registration facility of the shrine board. The CEO informed the Governor that as many as 60,000 intending yatris had already been registered to date with a majority from Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

Vohra issued directions to the CEO to obtain the daily reports of registration and promptly address the issues of intending yatris by effectively coordinating with the banks. Also, to facilitate the intending yatris for obtaining compulsory health certificate from authorised doctors/institutions by various states/UTs, the CEO apprised that a list of such doctors/institutions had been uploaded on the official website of the shrine board (www.shriamarathjishrine.com). A helpdesk (Contact No. 0191-2555662, 2503399) has also been established in the office of the shrine board, which operates between 9.30 am to 8.30 pm, to attend to the queries of the yatris, the CEO added. Similarly, all e-mails received from the yatris are being responded promptly.

Moreover, the Governor was given a detailed briefing about the arrangements being made in the yatra area from Pahalgam as well as Baltal. These include facilities to be put in place for power, water supply through permanently laid water pipes and medical facilities in the entire area. The CEO said Chief Secretary BB Vyas has recently chaired a meeting of a high-level committee to review the implementation of various key projects and arrangements being planned for the smooth conduct of this year’s Amarnath yatra. It was further informed that a standard operating procedure was being formulated by the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department for the health check-up of ponies/horses before their registration in the yatra to ensure that only healthy animals were registered. Stressing the need for timely clearance of snow-bound tracks and camps in the yatra area, the Governor directed the CEO to closely monitor the restoration and improvement works, which were being executed by various government agencies.

While emphasising on sanitation arrangements during the yatra, Vohra was informed about the steps being taken by the shrine board in coordination with the district administration of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts, Pahalgam and Sonamarg Development Authority and Municipal Committee of Pahalgam for the proper collection and disposal of solid wastes, which would be generated during the yatra. He impressed upon the need to have more dustbins en route the holy cave and stressed upon the works wing of the shrine board to strictly monitor on a daily basis the sanitation arrangements, smooth operation of sewage treatment plants at Pahalgam and Baltal and ensure that there was daily collection and disposal of garbage and maintenance of cleanliness in all camps.

The Governor further directed that the preservation of ecology and environment should be accorded highest priority and all necessary arrangements be put in place well before the commencement of the yatra. In order to sensitise the yatris about cleanliness, Vohra stressed that signboards be installed at conspicuous locations in the yatra area.