Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 8: Governor N. N. Vohra, who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board today reviewed the progress on the clearance of tracks and positioning of the various required arrangements on ground for the forthcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra, at the Base and Camps enroute. This special review meeting was convened after receipt of reports from Shrine Board and District Administration officers about the difficulties being faced due to intermittent rains and continuous bad weather encountered in the last few days in the entire Yatra area.
The meeting in which Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, Preet Pal Singh, Additional CEO, K. G. Bamba, General Manager (Works) and other concerned Board officers participated, expressed serious concern over the pace of work on the ground because of the repeated and prolonged interruptions due to frequent spells of heavy rains and fresh snows in the Yatra area.
The CEO informed about the telegram received from the Pahalgam Development Authority intimated that on the Chandanwari-Mahagunas Top- Panjtarni axis, there is snow accumulation of 18 feet at the 15th, 16th and 17th kilometer of the track. While work is underway for the clearance of track, it has been cautioned that the complete removal of snow from the track in one go will at this stage, lead to formation of steep walls of snow which could prove dangerous in case of wind storm or snow avalanches. Consequently, the snow clearance work is proceeding in stages, step by step. The CEO further informed that the fresh snow fall on 6th and 7th June has adversely affected the on-going work in the Yatra area.
The meeting also took note of the Meteorological Department report which forecasts rains and thunder showers in the Yatra area during 9th June to 13th June.
Recognizing the prevailing weather and the forecasts for the coming days, the Governor directed the CEO to take urgent necessary steps to hasten the work progress by extending the working shifts, to ensure that track clearance and other Yatra-related arrangements targets are achieved by the envisaged dates, well before the commencement of the forthcoming Yatra on 25th June, 2012.
As per understandings arrived at with the Administration, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir would be reviewing the progress of all Yatra related work, along both routes, early next week. The Governor would also be visiting Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps during 11th -13th June, 2012.
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