Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 6: Governor N N Vohra, Chairman, alongwith P.K. Tripathi, CEO, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, conducted an aerial survey of the entire Shri Amarnathji Yatra area, along both the routes. He travelled along the Baltal-Domail-Sangam-Panjtarni-Sheshnag-Chandanwari-Pahalgam axis to gain a first hand view of the existing snow accumulation levels.
As of now, the Yatra Camp sites at Panjtarni, Sheshnag and Holy Cave, the tracks from Chandanwari onwards on the Pahalgam axis, and some stretches from Domel onwards, on the Baltal axis, are covered and snow clearing work is in progress in these areas.
Governor impressed upon the concerned agencies to immediately increase the pace of ongoing work and ensure that the tracks are cleared and repaired and all the facilities required for the Yatra are put in place well in time.
During his day long visit to the Yatra area, after completing the aerial recce the Governor held review meetings at the Baltal and Nunwan Yatra Base Camps with Tariq Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal; Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag; Imitaz Ismail Parray, Senior Superintendent of Police Ganderbal; Abdul Jabbar, Senior Superintendent of Police Anantnag and all other concerned Divisional and District level officers.
The Governor directed the Labour and Animal Husbandry Departments to ensure the proper registration of Ponies and the Pony-wallas, Dandi-wallas, Palki-wallas and the authorized strength of the Pithus (labour). He directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that laminated Photo Identity Cards are issued to all legitimate workers to see that no unauthorized person is allowed to enter the narrow tracks.
The Governor discussed arrangements regarding the provision of safety measures at the Nunwan and the Baltal Base Camps, particularly Fire and Emergency services, installing and making Fire Hydrants functional at Baltal, Domail and Nunwan and setting up of Joint Control Rooms.
The Governor directed GM (Works) to ensure that all the toilets and baths, at every Camp location, are connected to proper waste disposal systems and foolproof arrangements are made for maintaining cleanliness of toilet facilities, at all times. He further directed that the CEOs of the Pahalgam and the Sonamarg Development Authorities shall be responsible for making effective arrangements for the daily collection of all garbage which would then be transported to the sites which have been identified by the Deputy Commissioners in consultation with the State Pollution Control Board Authorities.
While reviewing the arrangements for the provision of medical facilities for the pilgrims, the Governor directed the Deputy Commissioners and the Chief Medical Officers of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts to ensure that every medical camp was equipped with adequate medical and para-medical manpower, equipments, medicines and other requirements. Governor observed that as the Base Hospitals at Panjtarni and Sheshnag are this year being set up in the repaired pucca structures which have been in existence for 25-30 years, at least 50% stock of medicines should be stored at these camps right in the beginning and supplies to the other Medical Aid Centres (MACs) and Emergency Aid Centres (EACs) in the area are also moved well in time.
The Governor stressed on the police officers to ensure that all regulatory measures are most strictly enforced to ensure that every registered Yatri is enabled to cross the Access Control Gates at Chandanwari and Baltal without any inconvenience. The CAPD officials informed the Governor that adequate arrangements are being made for stocking rations, fire-wood and fuels for the coming Yatra.
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