Timely execution of works, arrangements
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 7: The Finance Department has released Rs 11 crore for making arrangements for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji beginning June 28 and lasting till August 22 this year through Budget Estimation Allocations and Monitoring System (BEAMS).
An order to this effect was issued today by Financial Commissioner (Finance Department) Dr Arun Kumar Mehta.
Calling upon all functionaries and departments associated with Shri Amarnath Ji yatra to ensure timely execution of works and related arrangements for smooth conduct of pilgrimage, the Finance Department order said incurring of expenditure should be in according with budgetary provisions made under Revenue and Capital components for the year 2021-22.
“Funds under Revenue budget out of the Balance Expenditure 2021-22 amounting to Rs 11 crore stand authorized through BEAMS,” the Government order said.
It said the Tourism Department being the Nodal Department for Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage will obtain necessary action plan from the departments in respect of funds provisioned under Capital Expenditure (Capex) budget for the financial year of 2021-22.
The Tourism Department will furnish action plan to the Finance Department for activity-wise authorization of funds, the Government order said.
“The funds shall be utilized as per norms and after following the procedure already laid down by the Government,” the Finance Department said and stressed that due prudence should be observed by all concerned departments and officers in incurring expenditure.
It said no liability should be created and any expenditure beyond budgetary provisions shouldn’t be incurred without due approval of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board and Finance Department.
The Finance Department has already conveyed its concurrence to the floating of tenders with regard to execution of work during 2021-22 for smooth conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage 2021.
Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has already announced that this year’s pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir Himalayas will last 56 days, the highest duration in past many years.
The yatra will start on June 28 and culminate on August 22 coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Sharavan Purnima.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government is expecting nearly six lakh pilgrims for Shri Amarnath Ji yatra and is making all arrangements accordingly. However, possibility of number of the pilgrims going up is also not ruled out as last year there was no yatra because of COVID pandemic and only `Chhari Mubarak’ (holy mace of Lord Shiva) was allowed to proceed for darshan of Baba Amarnath with few Sadhus and Saints led by custodian of the Mace Mahant Shri Deependra Giri Ji.
In 2019 also, the pilgrimage was cut short by about a fortnight ahead of August 5 decisions of the Central Government abrogating special status of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
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