‘295 temporary toilets, 93 bathrooms, 75 urinals to facilitate pilgrims’
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, June 27: The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is leaving no stone unturned to provide proper cleanliness and sanitation facilities for the successful annual Shri Amarnath Yatra starting from July 3, 2025, when the pilgrims will leave the Yatra base camp in Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu for paying obeisance to the Ice-Lingam in Kashmir Himalayas.
Despite the Pahalgam terrorist attack which killed 26 tourists in April this year, the authorities concerned are expecting about 4.5-5 lakh pilgrims this year for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage.
Every year a large number of these visiting pilgrims are accommodated at the base camp of the Yatra in Bhagwati Nagar while prominent temples and other places like community halls of different communities also provide free of cost accommodation to these pilgrims where free langars are also arranged which provide food, snacks and other eatables round the clock to the pilgrims during all the Yatra days.
The seers joining the pilgrimage are accommodated at ancient Ram Temple in Purani Mandi area of Jammu city where they are provided all the facilities along with those of performing their daily religious practices.
An officer of JMC informed that about 10 extra autos will be pressed into service for lifting the garbage from lodgement centres and other places associated with the Yatra.
“The garbage will be disposed off at the designated site in Kot Bhalwal,” he said adding: “The proper water supply for the visiting pilgrims will be ensured by the Jal Shakti Department (Urban Wing) which is presently functioning under JMC.”
The JMC officer also said that the Urban Division of Jal Shakti Department has hired eight extra water tankers, four for Jammu north and four for Jammu south, to ensure proper water supply at the places of stay of the visiting Amarnath pilgrims.
He said that presently the Urban Local Body is busy in ensuring that no water-logging is formed on roads, streets and at other places in the ongoing rainy season due to downpour and for that de-silting of the drains including deep drains is going on.
“Nallahs are otherwise de-silted completely by June end but as this year monsoons arrived much early so we are putting extra efforts,” he said.
When contacted, JMC Commissioner, Dr. Devansh Yadav informed that there are 23 lodgement centres in Jammu city for the visiting Amarnath pilgrims along with 10 registration-counters to facilitate the pilgrims and JMC is deploying its sanitation staff at all these places.
“JMC will deploy 425 Sanitation Workers to ensure cleanliness and sanitation at all these 23 lodgement centres in Jammu city and 10 registration counters,” he maintained.
Dr. Yadav also said that about 295 temporary toilets will also be set up along with 93 bathrooms and 75 urinals to facilitate the visiting pilgrims in Jammu.
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