* Refuses to accept DPR for 2014-15

Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, July 29: Indicting State Government of serious slackness in implementation of the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Union Ministry of Rural Department has shot off a letter to the State Government criticising the concerned agencies for their failure to ensure timely completion of sanctioned projects worth Rs 2715 crores in the border State.
Perturbed over the State of affairs, the Union Ministry has categorically told the State to ensure expeditious completion of pending road works.
Reliable sources said the Central Ministry while advising the State Government on enhancement of their execution capacity for the pending projects worth Rs 2715 crores has categorically told the officials not to submit any Detail Project Reports (DPRs) for the year 2014-15.
According to the letter from the office of Union Rural Ministry dated July 22, 2014 bearing no. P-17017/12/2014-RC, which is in possession of EXCELSIOR, “Jammu and Kashmir figures prominently among the list of States with huge pendency of PMGSY projects. The balance works in hand are even more than 3 times the value of the execution capacity of the State (Rs 610 crores)”.
Ironically, while the letter categorically states that projects worth Rs 2715 crores are pending in different regions of the State, the respective officials of the Department in Jammu and Kashmir seem to be unaware of these facts. “While some officials claimed that the DPR had already been sent to the Union Rural Ministry, others chose to pass the blame on their colleagues, while claiming that all projects were on time in their territory”, sources remarked.
The official document of the Union Ministry says, “an analysis of balance projects in hands vis-à-vis three times higher than execution capacity of the State indicate that seven States including Jammu and Kashmir already have balance works in hand. Other States which fall in this category included Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Meghalaya and West Bengal”.
“In Jammu and Kashmir, there are balance works worth Rs 2715 crores in hand, which are more than three times in value of the execution capacity of the State”, says the letter adding, “hence, the State should focus on expeditious completion of pending road works and enhancement of their execution capacity in 2014-15′.
Elaborating further, the documents says, “as per the programme guidelines of PMGSY, the clearance of the projects is being accorded on the submission of DPRs, which are prepared based on approved Schedule of Rate (SoR) of concerned State in the current financial year. However, it has been observed that higher project clearance vis-à-vis the execution capacity of state results not only in delayed completion of the sanctioned projects but also creates additional financial burden on the State exchequer due to cost escalation”.
The Union Rural Ministry has prepared an Indicative Project Clearance, three times higher than execution capacity, for year 2014-15 which would facilitate submission of DPRs in accordance with the execution capacity of State. The letter, written by Manju Rajpal, Deputy Secretary in the Union Rural Department has been addressed to the Principal Secretary of the concerned Department.
Asked about the huge delays in implementation of PMGSY schemes that are aimed to ensure all weather connectivity to rural areas, Minister for PWD (R&B) Abdul Majid Wani confessed, “several projects had been pending due to land compensation issues in several districts. Though the then UPA Government had provided liberal funding meant for compensation purposes under the category of the Prime Minister Reconstruction Plan (PMRP), several clearances were required for implementation of these projects”.
CE PMGSY, Jammu, Mr D D Gorkha said, “less than 10 projects were pending in his region due to forest clearance issues and few other had been delayed due to land acquisition process”.
CE PMGSY, Kashmir, Mr Bimal Tickoo stated, “all is well in Kashmir and Ladakh and there aren’t many delays. There were some issues pertaining to projects as ours is a hilly State and the land acquisition process is also time consuming. While in several other States, people had voluntarily offered their land for use under PMGSY schemes, we have to acquire land and compensate the owners”.

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 29: In a major success, police today arrested three militants including one from Ganderbal in Kashmir and two others from Dhar Ghaloon in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district for their involvement in militancy including last month’s powerful blast in the office of Naib Tehsildar at Dhar Ghaloon. One of the arrested militants was a Panch.
Police said searches were still on to nab another top Hizbul Mujahideen operative in Kupwara and two to three businessmen/politicians of Bhatta Dhurian, Mendhar, who had masterminded the blast for getting the administrative unit (tehsil) shifted from Dhar Ghaloon to Bhatta Dhurian.
DIG Rajouri-Poonch range AK Atri told the Excelsior that police have so far arrested three militants and booked them in FIR No. 46/2014 registered under Section 120-B and ¾ Explosive Substances Act for their involvement in Dhar Ghaloon blast that took place on the intervening night of June 24 and 25. Their involvement in more blasts is yet to be ascertained.
The arrested militants have been identified as Irfan Ahmad son of Abdul Qayoom, a resident of Dhar Ghaloon, Mendhar, Mohammad Khaliq and Farooq Ahmed, both residents of the same village. A top Hizbul militant Abdul Majeed Dar son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar R/o Nagri, Kupwara was still absconding.
Addressing a joint press conference, DIG Rajouri-Poonch range AK Atri and SSP Poonch Shamsheer Hussain confirmed the arrest of Irfan Ahmad.
Police sources, however, told the Excelsior that police arrested Irfan Ahmad from village Wali in Ganderbal district of Kashmir, where he had taken shelter in a house last night. Irfan tried to escape by mixing up with local population but police captured him and shifted him to Poonch. Mohammad Khaliq and Farooq Ahmad were arrested from Dhar Ghaloon, Mendhar. Farooq is Panch from Dhar Ghaloon.
Sources said the three arrested militants had struck a deal of Rs 1.5 lakh with some unidentified businessmen/politicians of Bhatta Dhurian to trigger blast in the office of Naib Tehsildar at Dhar Ghaloon, where Tehsildar had to take charge on next day of the blast.
The unidentified persons wanted Tehsil office to be headquartered at Bhatta Dhurian, police said, adding they were interrogating the three arrested militants to ascertain identity of businessmen/politicians, who had hired them for causing blast in the office of Naib Tehsildar at Dhar Ghaloon.
“It has been confirmed that some influential persons of Bhatta Dhurian had fired Irfan and others for triggering the blast but their identity hasn’t been known so far,” police said, adding the instigators were likely to be identified very soon as sustained interrogation of three militants was on.
Police said the unidentified influential persons had struck a deal of Rs 1.5 lakh with Irfan, who, in turn, had hired services of Khaliq and Farooq and approached Hizbul Mujahideen operative Abdul Majeed Dar son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar of Nagri, Kupwara.
Irfan, who had been given initial amount of Rs 65,000 by the conspirators, had paid only Rs 30,000 to Abdul Majeed Dar and got one powerful IED from him.
Irfan planted the IED in the office of Naib Tehsildar at Dhar Galoon after transporting it from Kashmir via Mughal Road and detonated it causing extensive damage to the office.
Police said some more revelations were likely after the accused, who had hired the militants, are arrested in the next few days.

SHIMLA, July 29: Twentyone people were killed and five injured when a bus plunged into a 400-mt deep gorge at Katarghat on Basantpur-Kingal highway, 65 km from here, this afternoon.
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus, carrying nearly 30 people, was on its way from Shimla to Sawerakhud when the accident happened, SP (Shimla) D W Negi said.
Nineteen passengers were killed on the spot while two succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital, he said.
The five injured were admitted to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) hospital here, the SP, who visited the scene, said.
All the bodies had been recovered from wreckage of the bus, he said adding some were mutilated beyond recognition.
The driver of the bus, who jumped out of the vehicle, was among the injured.
The bodies, which were yet to identified, have been sent for post mortem.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who expressed shock over the accident, visited IGMC and enquired about the condition of the injured.
He asked the hospital administration to provide all possible help to the injured.
The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained but eye-witnesses said it could be due to thick fog that had reduced the visibility considerably.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the accident.
Governor Urmilla Singh and Transport Minister G S Bali also expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to bereaved families.
In another accident, 55 people were injured when an HRTC bus met with the accident near Mahina village in Theog area, 50 km from here, today, police said. (PTI)

Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, July 29: Eid-ul Fitr, marking the culmination of the Muslim Holy month of Ramadhan, was today celebrated across Kashmir with traditional fervour and gaiety but protests broke out over Gaza after the prayers in the morning leaving at least 20 people injured.
The biggest gathering was reported at Hazratbal Shrine on the banks of Dal Lake where Chief Minister Omar Abdullah joined over 50,000 people to offer Eid prayers
After prayers, Omar exchanged Eid greetings with the people at Hazratbal and wished them well being and prosperity. He received hundreds of visitors from all over the State who visited his residence to convey Eid greetings.
Those who visited the CM’s residence included Ministers, Parliament Members, Legislators, political activists, journalists, senior citizens and general people.
The second biggest Eid gathering was at Eidgah in the old city where nearly 40,000 people offered prayers. Large congregations were also witnessed at the Polo ground in Srinagar,  Anantnag, Baramulla, Shopian, Kulgam, Budgam, and Ganderbal district headquarters.
People dressed in colourful clothes visited prayer grounds, Masjids and shrines across the Valley to offer the congregational Eid prayers in thanksgiving for the fasting month of Ramadhan, which ended last evening with the sighting of the Islamic month of Shawwal moon.
However, violent protests were reported in parts of the Valley soon after Eid prayers in which at least 20 people including police men were injured. The protests were held in solidarity with the people of Gaza where hundreds of persons have died in Israeli airstrikes and ground offensive over the past month.
The protesters started from Eidgah in old city area of Srinagar soon after the prayers. The protesters pelted stones on police and para-military CRPF and police fired dozens of tear smoke shells to disperse them. At least 17 people including some cops were injured in the clashes at several places in the old city. Scores of vehicle of the people who offered prayers at Eidgah were damaged in the clashes.
A group of protesters also reached Civil lines area including Maisuma but police chased them away.
Two persons including a Policeman were injured in stone pelting at Janglat Mandi in Anantnag town this morning. The injured are identified as Constable Adil Ahmad Mir ( Belt No- 384A) son of Gulam Hasan Mir resident of Shangus and a civilian Aabid Ahmad Thoker son of Abdul Rashid resident of Waghama, Bijbehara.
Aabid has been shifted to SKIMS, Srinagar in a critical condition while the injured policeman is being treated at district hospital Anantnag.

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 29: After yesterday’s violence at Bhoondh (Sheetal Nagari) over sacrilegious act at Jannu hamlet in the Basohli tehsil of Kathua district, protests sparked in Ramban , Batote and Chanderkote townships in Ramban district, Chenani and Ramnagar townships of Udhampur district today against  another sacrilegious act in Shivgadi Jungle falling under Chakwa Panchayat of Patnitop area in Ramban district.
Soon after the news of the sacrilegious act spread, the shopkeepers downed the shutters of their business establishments in Ramban, Chanderkote and Chenani townships while irate mob held a demonstration at Batote and Patnitop and blocked Jammu-Srinagar National Highway protesting against the act. The protests were also held at Ramnagar in Udhampur district against the act.
The traffic on Jammu- Srinagar National Highway remained disrupted for five hours this afternoon as protestors blocked NH at Batote and Patnitop demanding stern action against the culprits.
According to reports the situation is stated to be under control. Soon after the news spread, the DIG, Doda, Ramban Range Ashkoor Wani, Deputy Commissioner Ramban, R A Inqalabi, SSP Ramban, Javed Matoo and SSP Udhampur Suleman Choudhary along with other police and civil officers visited the area to ascertain the situation. They pacified the protesting mob and assured them that the culprits will be arrested within 24 hours. On this assurance protestors dispersed but warned to take to streets after two days in case the culprits were not arrested by then.
SSP, Ramban Javed Matoo later told Excelsior that a sacrilegious act has taken place late last night in the jungles of Shivgadi in Chakwa Panchayat in Batote which sparked protests. He said the situation is under control and the administration is monitoring the situation. He said no arrest has been made so far but the Police has registered a case and soon the culprits will be arrested. He as well as DC Ramban have appealed to the people to maintain calm.
DC Ramban, R A Inqalabi while appealing the people to maintain calm said the police has identified the culprits responsible for sacrilegious act and disturbing peaceful atmosphere in the area. They will be arrested soon and dealt seriously under law.
He said it is unfortunate that some anti social elements tried to disturb the peaceful atmosphere on holy festival of Eid by indulging into a sacrilegious act and they will not be spared at any cost.
Meanwhile, Bhoondh township in Basohli tehsil of Kathua district where a peaceful bandh was observed for second consecutive day after the yesterday’s sacrilegious act which sparked off widespread protests remained calm today. Total bandh was also observed in other towns of Kathua district as a mark of protest against yesterday’s sacrilegious act at Jannu.
Meanwhile, Basohli police has arrested two persons for questioning and creating disturbances in Bhoondh area. They were identified as Shamas-ud-Din and Qamar-ud-Din. The DC Kathua, Shahid Iqbal and SSP Kathua Mohan Lal visited Bhoondh today again to monitor the situation while SDPO Basohli is camping there.
Police said that the situation is calm and under control as no untoward was reported from any where in the area.
SSP Kathua Mohan Lal said that situation is under control and no untoward incident was reported from any where today. He said no arrest has been made as yet as the culprits have managed to escape. The Police has launched a man hunt and they will be nabbed soon.
He said total bandh was observed and protestors also blocked National Highway. He said people were given assurance by him and Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Shahid Iqbal that the culprits will be arrested soon and dealt under law.
Reports said total bandh was observed in Kathua, Basohli, Billawar, Hiranagar and other small townships of Kathua district today with transport remaining off the roads and shopkeepers downing the shutters of their business establishments.
A complete bandh was observed in Kathua township today and transport remained off the roads in Kathua township and on other link roads. However, the traffic plied normally on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway later in the day which was closed for some time by protestors in the morning.
A protest demonstration was also held by the irate youth in Kathua town against the yesterday’s sacrilegious act. The protestors shouting slogans against the Government held police responsible for such acts. They demanded stern action under law against culprits trying to disturb peace. They said earlier such acts also took place in the hilly belt of Kathua district but no one was prosecuted and punished so far with the result people involved in such acts get encouraged.
A peaceful procession was also taken in the town from Kalibari which after passing via Main Chowk Kathua culminated at Parliward.
Reports said total bandh was observed in Basohli township with business establishments remaining closed and transport was off the roads. The people also held a demonstration in the town protesting yesterday’s sacrilegious act in Bhoondh area and demanded stern action against culprits.
Total bandh was also observed in Bani, Billawar, Gujjar Nagrota, Ramkote, Mahar Nagrota, Phenter, Guda Kalyal, Hiranagar and Ghagwal for the whole day. However no untoward incident was reported from any side.
The district administration had also taken elaborate measures to deal with the situation and adequate police force was deployed in these townships.

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 29: Notwithstanding stringent measures taken to thwart their nefarious designs of spoiling the future of young generation and damaging the monetary stability, Jammu and Kashmir has remained a focal point for the cartels pumping in fake currency and indulging in drugs smuggling with the connivance of their mentors across the border and supporters within the State.
This can be gauged from the data about the seizure of counterfeit currency notes and quantity of narcotics seized by the different agencies in Jammu and Kashmir. No doubt seizure of fake Indian currency notes and huge quantity of narcotics is an achievement for the agencies concerned but the fact remains that such cartels are still working without any fear of law.
According to the investigating agencies, fake Indian currency notes are being pumped into Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country from neighbouring countries by creating a self-sustaining criminal network and number of such cartels cannot be easily presumed.
Though legal regime has been strengthened whereby production or smuggling or circulation of fake currency paper or any other material has been declared as terrorist act yet there is no let up in the cases of pumping of fake currency.
As per the official data available with EXCELSIOR, Rs 1.16 crore worth counterfeit currency was seized during the past four years (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 (up to June 30) in Jammu and Kashmir. During the year 2011, a total of 6855 fake currency notes were seized in the State. Of these 2320 were recovered by different branches of RBI and 4535 seized by police.
Total value of these fake currency notes was worked out at Rs 38,63,590 and in this connection 39 FIRs were registered against 73 accused persons.
In 2012, a total of 7201 fake currency notes worth Rs 31,74,350 were seized and accordingly 17 FIRs were lodged against 30 persons. Similarly, in 2013, 26 FIRs were lodged against 45 persons following recovery of 6737 fake currency notes worth Rs 35,26,910. During the first six months of the current year, a total of 2281 fake currency notes worth Rs 11,0,2800 were seized and accordingly four FIRs were lodged against the accused persons.
In order to check this menace, the Union Ministry of Finance has been constantly upgrading the security features in the high value currency notes. Moreover, Reserve Bank of India has also strengthened the mechanism for detection of counterfeit notes by the banks.
Even a special coordination centre has been established in the Ministry of Home Affairs to share the intelligence/information amongst the different security agencies of State and Centre to counter the menace of circulation of counterfeit currency notes, official sources said.
The smuggling of drugs in Jammu and Kashmir has also remained a matter of serious concern for all the agencies as despite numerous measures about better coordination at various levels between different agencies, there is no perceptible improvement in the situation.
According to the official data, a total of 115084.87 kilograms of drugs were seized in 2011, 21736.32 kilograms in 2012 and 95237.82 kilograms in 2013 and 322, 261 and 285 cases respectively were registered under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act during these years.
During the first six months of the current year, a total of 41905.67 kilograms of drugs were seized and accordingly 164 cases were registered. In the year 2011, 440 persons were booked under NDPSA while as 346 were arrested under this Act in 2012 and 401 in 2013. During the current year, 227 persons have been booked under NDPSA till June 30, 2014.

Nishikant Khajuria
Deprived of required attention and development in respect of all spheres, the Chenani-Ghordi Assembly constituency in Udhampur district seems to have lost all hopes from their elected representative.
It’s virtually ineffective MLA Krishan Chander Bhagat who is representing the area since 2008.
The state of road connectivity, health services and education in the constituency is in shambles while a number of developmental projects are gathering dust due to ill-planned and delayed execution of work thus ultimately resulting into wasteful expenditure of the Government money.
The extremely poor condition of road network keeps the entire Ghordi area virtually cut from Tehsil headquarters and District headquarters thus subjecting the locals to a lot of problems, including no medical treatment during emergency hours, explained Hans Raj. “Due to non availability of adequate medical facilities and doctors particularly Gynecologist and extremely poor road conditions, a number of pregnant women die in these remote village, he lamented.
Ghordi area, which comprises 17 Panchayats with more than 20 thousand population, has extremely poor road connectivity. The entire 40-km stretch from Udhampur to Kaldi and then Barrain to Ghordi is in bad condition. Only 17 kilometer stretch, out of 25 kms long Gujararh Pul Madha to Chirdi-Kither road under PMGSY, has been completed during the last seven years. Similarly Nagolta-Tandar road under PMGSY is also incomplete.
Even after 65 years of independence, a number of villages and hamlets in Chenani constituency are yet to be electrified. These include Barnek near Mantalai under Sarad Panchayat, Chaiyan in Panchayat Kosar, Ghorha Nallah, Kothi Bai, Talpad, Sandha, Chappad etc.
Shortage of teachers and inadequate infrastructure in Government Schools is a very common phenomenon. In entire Dudu and Latti, there is no Government Girls High school with the result that a number of girls are forced to drop the idea of further studies after class 8th as some parents hesitate to send their wards in co-education institutions. The locals took up this issue several times with the MLA who did nothing in this regard except making assurances, said Mohd Akram.
What to say of far off and remote areas of the constituency, even the Tehsil headquarters and main centre Chenani lacks basic facilities notwithstanding more than 40 thousand population of the town and around 10 thousand floating population from the adjoining areas.
The situation can be well understood from the fact that the entire town has not even a single Toilet complex for general public despite a longstanding demand of the locals in this regard and immediate requirement of the same, rued Rajesh Gupta, a young social activist who runs a medical store in the Chenani main bazar.
A Hostel complex for boys and girls at Latti, which was constructed more than a decade ago by then Union Minister of State for Defence and local MP Prof Chaman Lal Gupta from his Constituency Development Fund, is of no use till date owing to no bathroom facility and boundary wall there.
Despite repeated requests to the MLA for making this hostel building functional by getting funds sanctioned for boundary wall and bathroom facility, nothing has been done in this regard, said Fareed.
Non-availability of doctors and Para-Medical Staff in the Health Centres is a common phenomenon. Even at the Sub-District Hospital Chenani, doctors attend the duties on rotational basis for their own convenience resulting into inconvenience to patients, particularly in emergency.
Due to incomplete new hospital building of Latti Primary Health Centre, facilities like X-ray and Ultrasound are not getting started there despite sanction of the same. For the last two years, no contractor is coming forward for the pending work of this incomplete structure for the reasons best known to the concerned authorities. This PHC caters to the population of more than 50 thousand spread in the adjoining areas, including Pachouan, Dudu, Kirchi, Bapp, Pattan etc but the facilities are inadequate.
The situation is worse in the Health Sub-Centres like that of Parla Chappar where a Sweeper was running the institution for the last several years. Despite a long pending demand for a Medical Assistant there, the Government has recently posted a Multi-purpose Health Worker.
Lackluster approach of the MLA and Government authorities towards issues of immediate attention can be further gauged from the fact that building of Government Primary School Sarar got damaged more than eight months back due to shooting stones and since then the students are having classes in open as no work for repair of the school has been initiated till date while village Satyalta in Manara Devi Panchayat was without electricity for the last more than three months as the transformer had not been repaired by the concerned authorities.
Despite being at par with neighbouring Himachal Pradesh in scenic natural beauty with additional feature of surrounding places of high religious significance, the areas  like  Sudhmahadev, Mantalai, Latti, etc  have been deprived of required attention and development for becoming a tourist destination.
Surrounded by lush green deodar forests, these areas offers great views of the mountain landscape in the surroundings and the breathtaking views of natural beauty make these spots worthy of a visit.
Despite the influx of thousands of pilgrims and tourists to Sudhmahadev, not even a toilet facility has been provided in the area by the Government authorities while for night stay of visiting tourist, the only accommodation is a temple Sarai, which remains overcrowded during the summer days, said Sarpanch Pritam Chand.
A Yatri Bhawan was proposed near the Hospital building around three years back but nothing could materialize in this regard for the reasons best known to the concerned authorities while for creating the toilet facility, the authorities are still looking for a suitable space for the last several years, he added.
Situated a few kilometers further away from Sudhmahadev, Mantalai is the place associated with the legend of the marriage of Lord Shiva with the Goddess Parvati.
This temple is also of great archaeological significance as red earthenware and terra cotta figures were discovered at this place. Besides the Shiv Temple, the major attraction of this place is the grand complex created by Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari, which includes a tree shaped house, an air strip, a hostel, a zoo and a number of other unfinished projects spread over 1008 kanals of land surrounded by Deodar trees.
However, what to say of creating additional facilities for the visitors, even the existing infrastructure is not being take care of.  The grand complex created by Swami. Dhirendra Brahmachari at Mantalai is turning into ruins day by day with no efforts to save the precious property while the Guest Houses of Tourism Department at Sudhmahadev have turned into ruins and are closed since years.    The state of existing infrastructure  can be further gauged from the fact that PDA hut at Dudu  near Vasuki Naag temple is  virtually lying closed due to no upkeep and maintenance while Tourism hut at Dudu has been occupied by CRPF, informed the locals.
Keeping in view the tourism potential of the area, a number of locals even offered  creation of facilities such as Guest Houses and Huts  on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode but they rued that there was no response from the Government and Tourism Department.
“If the Government develops this circuit  by providing good road connectivity and facilities like accommodation, these places can attract a large number of tourists like Himachal Pradesh and generate employment, said K L Gupta of Latti.
Not projecting the vast tourism potential of this constituency despite being MLA of the ruling coalition partner and having own party colleague as Tourism Minister, is another major failure of Krishan Chander Bhagat.
Ropeway, Kud Maal Road, Kandar to Yugdhar road link via Ghordi could also have ushered a new era of economic development in the constituency but the local MLA did nothing to pursue these projects, said  young businessman Prem Kumar.
While the failures are unending, Krishan Chander Bhagat seems  to have little  success to  highlight  as MLA and this could be the apparent reason that  for weeks he kept seeking more time from the  Excelsior for listing his achievement during  the last more than five years.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 29 : With 3,50,195 pilgrims performing darshan at holy cave during  31 days of yatra till today, the 44 day long Amarnath pilgrimage has crossed the last years mark of 3.50 lakh.
According to an official spokesman, 3,443 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave today taking the number of pilgrims performing darshan since the 44 day long yatra started on June 28 to 3, 50,195.
However, there has been sharp decline in number of pilgrims visiting the holy cave after the unfortunate Baltal episode of July 18 this year as the number of pilgrims performing darshan of Icy Lingam daily constantly decreased to half of the number since then.
This has led to a lot of resentment among the people with various organizations including Baba Amarnath and Buddha Amarnath Yatri Niyas and Hotels and Lodges Association as well as members of other business communities accusing the Amarnath Shrine Board and State administration for the same.
Some organizations including VHP and Bajrang Dal have openly accused the Board of its failure in taking pre-emptive steps in averting the July 18 episode at Baltal which was followed by cylinder blast near the base camp of Baltal few days later of the Baltal violence.
They said such incidents created panic among the people, resulted in decline of the annual yatra. The BD leader Rakesh Sharma said SASB was never interested from the beginning to increase the number of pilgrims visiting the holy cave every year.
Accusing the Board of decreasing the duration of Yatra from two months to 44 days, VHP patron Dr Rama Kant Dubey said that this was done to please a particular section in Valley. The Board was never interested that the yatra should increase and more and more pilgrims should visit the holy cave otherwise there was no harm in running the yatra from Jesht Purnima to Sawan Purnima as was a precedence, he added.
He said every year controversy is being created on Amarnath yatra. He criticized the Board for fixing the duration of yatra from 60 days to 44 days and demanded that yatra period be extended beyond 60 dyas.
He said creating hurdles by Board in free movement of yatris and restricting the registration were some other problems which discouraged the yatra.
However, the Shrine Board while refuting these allegations in a statement issued here, today said that the yatra is continuing at a stead pace and the number of pilgrims who have visited the holy cave this year is slightly more than the number who visited last year.
Rakesh K Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of the Board said that last year the yatra commenced from both Baltal and Chandaanwari tracks on June 28 while this year the yatra commenced on June 28 only from Baltal track and from Chandanwari route it was started on July 2.
He said despite the yatra starting late this year from Chandanwari track 3,46,752 yatris had paid obeisance at holy cave till July 28 while till the corresponding day last year 3,27,507 pilgrims had performed darshan.
Mr Gupta said the data pertaining to preceding yatras indicates that every year the yatra declined after July 15. Despite this declining trend, over one lakh yatris had visited the holy cave from July 15 to July 25 this year, he added.
It may be recalled that the highest number of 6.34 lakh pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave in 2011 while 6.22 pilgrims performed darshan in 2012. However the number declined by 45 percent in 2013 when only 3.50 lakh pilgrims performed darshan in the holy cave.
According to data during the year 2004 when the yatra period was increased to  60 days four lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave. In 2005 also four lakh pilgrims had visited the cave shrine while in 2003 when the duration of yatra was only 30 days 1.70 lakh pilgrims had performed darshan in the cave shrine.
In 2006 about 3.50 lakh pilgrims visited the holy cave, while in 2007, three lakh pilgrims performed darshan of the Icy lingam at cave shrine. Even during the land row agitation in 2008 over 5.33 lakh pilgrims performed darshan while in 2009 four lakh pilgrims visited the cave shrine. In 2010 over 4.50 lakh pilgrims performed darshan in the holy cave and the yatra was of two months duration in all these years.