Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 23: Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora, exhorted upon concerned authorities to ensure time bound arrangements for smooth conduct of forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
The Minister was reviewing the status of action taken on the recommendations of high level committee (HLC) on Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2012 at a high level meeting held here today. Minister of State for Tourism and Home, Nasir Aslam Wani was also present in the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the status of process initiated by the concerned departments to take up various works at Chandanwari, Baltal base camps besides en-route to cave for convenience of yatris.
The Minister directed concerned authorities to ensure construction of impregnable gates at Chandanwari and Domel for effective regulation of Yatri movement well before commencing of the yatra. He directed that upgradation and improvement of the existing Rangamorh-Baltal-Domel, Baltal-Holy Cave, Chandanwari- Holy Cave routes should be completed well in time so that visiting yatris don’t face any inconvenience during yatra days.
The meeting also reviewed the status of the sites for establishment of transit camps along national highway from Lakhanpur to Sonamarg and Phalgam, establishment of shelter units at various locations along yatra routes.
The meeting was assured that necessary healthcare arrangements would be made available at all base camps and en-route to the cave for yatris. It was told that besides making provision for ambulances at Baltal, Chandanwari and Phalgam, required diagnostic equipments, oxygen cylinders and medicines would also be made available at all health camps.
It was informed that necessary process has been initiated for strengthening of water supply system at Baltal, Panjtherni, Shashnag besides necessary arrangements of electric supply at camp sites would be fully ensured before commencing of yatra.
The Minister instructed Commissioner Secretary Tourism and Culture to maintain close coordination with concerned authorities for making foolproof arrangements for the visiting yatris. He also directed him to ascertain the progress of various works taken up by the department on the HLC recommendations.
Principal Secretary, R&B, K.B. Aggarwal, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary Power Development Department, Sudanshu Pandey, Principal Secretary to Governor and Chief Executive Officer Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, Navin Chodhary, Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Atal Duloo, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Additional Commissioner, Kashmir, Abdul Majid Mir, District Development Commissioners, Anantnag and Ganderbal, Director tourism Kashmir, Mr. Farooq Ahmad Shah besides Senior officers of Health, PHE, GAD and Tourisms departments attended the meeting.