Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 20: Governor N. N. Vohra, who is the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, lauded the very high level of coordination among the State Government, Army, Central Armed Police Forces, J&K Police, Shrine Board and each of the concerned State Government departments, agencies and local stakeholders involved with the management of Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2016.
He also thanked the people of the Valley, particularly of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts, for their valuable support for ensuring the smooth conduct of this arduous pilgrimage.
The Governor was addressing the post-yatra 2016 review meeting which was followed by a felicitation function at Raj Bhavan here today.
The Governor observed that the preparations for the smooth conduct of this year’s yatra started very early and various arrangements were made well within the prescribed timeframe. However, due to unforeseen developments in the Valley, the number of pilgrims who performed this year’s pilgrimage was far less than that during Yatra 2015.
The Governor observed that the yatra proceeded smoothly barring two serious accidents involving vehicles carrying yatris at Awantipora and Chandanwari. He said that drawing lessons from these two accidents, which resulted in several deaths, it needs to be ensured that such unfortunate incidents do not recur.
The Governor reiterated his direction to the CEO to immediately launch a full scale post-yatra sanitation drive, fully involving the Pahalgam and Sonamarg Development Authorities, so that the entire yatra area is effectively cleaned up in the next 5 days.
The Governor also directed the CEO to ensure complete cleaning up of all camp sites and to prepare a camp and route-wise Action Plan for yatra 2017, keeping in view the experiences gained during this year’s pilgrimage. He stressed that route-wise arrangements of all aspects of the yatra must be worked out well in advance.
On the basis of the feedback received from the Camp Directors, the Governor asked P.K. Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shrine Board, to initiate action to prepare camp-wise and route-wise Action Plans for Yatra 2017, on a time-bound basis, particularly focusing on the requirements of medicare, water and power supply, sanitation, environment protection, accommodation and all other required facilities.
The Governor, as Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, presented certificates and mementoes to the officers who attended the meeting, as a token of the Board’s appreciation and thanks for their valuable support for the smooth conduct of the yatra.
P.K. Tripathi, CEO gave details of the initiatives which had been taken for yatra 2016.
While thanking one and all for the speed and promptitude with which all those involved with the conduct of the yatra had worked, the CEO said that it was due to this synergy which helped in the successful management of the Yatra.
The issues which were reviewed during the meeting included: feasibility of further improvements in the existing system of registration of yatris and access control measures; medical arrangements, improvement of tracks, sanitation arrangements; functioning of langars and other services; improvement of telecommunication; operation of helicopter services; improvement of telecommunication services rendered by BSNL; disaster management arrangements; services rendered by various other departments and agencies and the scope for improvements therein.
Jitendra K. Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Board, presented the vote of thanks on the occasion.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
