*Sham Lal review health facilities at yatra camps
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 16: At a high level meeting held under his chairmanship at Raj Bhavan here today, N. N. Vohra, Governor, who is Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, reviewed the enforcement of the cleanliness and sanitation arrangements which have been put in place in all the camps and on both Baltal and Pahalgam routes for the ongoing Shri Amarnathji Yatra.
Nawang Rigjin Jora, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Boad, Atal Dulloo, Commissioner/Secretary, Tourism, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag; Showkat Ahmad Mir, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Preet Pal Singh, Additional CEO of the Shrine Board, Mir Altaf Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer, Pahalgam Development Authority, Mohammad Yousuf, Chief Executive Officer, Sonamarg Development Authority and J. R. Bandey, Officer Incharge Sanitation in the Shrine Board participated in the meeting.
Reviewing the camp-wise and route-wise sanitation arrangements, the Governor directed that a special sanitation drive should be launched by the Pahalgam and Sonamarg Development Authorities to ensure cleanliness along the tracks and around the camps, by deploying additional manpower, if necessary, to secure visible outcomes.
He also directed the CEO, Shrine Board, to intensify the cleanliness and sanitation measures within the camps and on the Baltal-Brarimarg-Sangam track. He said that he, along with the Tourism Minister, will be shortly visiting the Yatra area to review the results of this special sanitation drive.
The Governor discussed with Mr. Jora and the officers participating in the meeting the urgent need for identifying the short and long-term measures for protection of environment and ecology of the Yatra area. He observed that, interalia, the environment and ecology would be protected by ensuring the regular collection and treatment of all wastes. He stressed the use of plastic shedders for disposal of plastic bottles and other plastic materials and segregation of waste materials for appropriate treatment. He said that the Yatris need to be repeatedly reminded not to carry polythene bags and, instead, use jute bags which have been made available at the Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps.
Meanwhile, on the directions of the Governor and Chief Minister, a high level team led by Sham Lal Sharma, Health Minister, Javid Ahmad Dar, MoS, Health, Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board visited the Yatra Camps at Nunwan, Sheshnag, Panjtarni, Holy Cave and Baltal to review the medical facilities being made available to the pilgrims.
Health Minister and members of his team inspected all Medical Aid Centres established at the camps, checked the number of doctors and para-medical staff on duty, and the availability of medicines, essential diagnostic and treatment equipment and oxygen cylinders.
After his visit, the Health Minister directed the immediate augmentation of critical life saving medicines, particularly at the high altitude Medical Aid Centres (MACs) at Sheshnag, Panjtarni and Holy Cave. The team also visited the MACs which are being run by the Army and Para-Military Forces and directed that all MACs should run in close coordination and pool their resources in an efficient manner to effectively serve the pilgrims in need of medical help.
Health Minister enquired from the Doctors and other medical staff on duty regarding the reason for the deaths due to cardiac arrest which have been regularly taking place and was informed that many Yatris do not come with adequate clothing and commence climbing without any acclimatization attempting to complete the Yatra in the shortest possible time. Many of them start the Yatra from Baltal or Panjtarni on an empty stomach with the firm believe that they can not consume any food or drink before concluding their Darshan. The Doctors informed the Health Minister that in many cases persons with existing medical problems have been able to obtain registration after furnishing Compulsory Health Certificates which are obviously invalid. In one case, a Yatri who had recently undergone bye-pass surgery had been able to obtain a certificate which declared him fit for undergoing such an arduous Yatra at this high altitude.
He also directed the Police authorities that all such Yatris who have faced medical problems at the Base Camp and are undergoing treatment should, under no condition, be allowed to proceed on the Yatra. Side by side, the Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board directed all Camp Directors to effectively use Public Address System and advice Yatris to approach the nearest MAC in case they felt ill or even slightest uneasiness.
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