Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 30: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), Navin K Choudhary today concluded his four days extensive tour of base camps during which he inspected the snow situation and facilities for the upcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra.
Accompanied by Showkat Mir, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Shahid, SP Ganderbal, Mohammad Yousuf, CEO Sonamarg Development Authority, K G Bamba, GM, Works SASB and other senior functionaries of the district administration, the CEO took stock of snow accumulation and condition of the infrastructure at the base camps of Baltal and Domail.
It was informed that PWD has been able to open the road up to the base camp of Baltal only two days back with great difficulty as at some places, the snow is more than 20 to 25 feet. Due to heavy snowfall this year, the Police Camp at Baltal has been completely wiped out and there is massive damage to other pre-fabricated structures.
The CEO also inspected the helipad where the existing structures have been nearly destroyed due to massive snow avalanches. In a meeting with officers of concerned departments at the base camp, he underscored the need for hard work and extra efforts for re-establishing these infrastructures.
While conducting extensive tour to Nunwan, Pahalgam and Chandanwari, it was observed that the snow accumulation is very high beyond Chandanwari, though the road from Pahalgam to Chandanwari has been opened for vehicular traffic. Due to heavy accumulation of snow, the advance party of PDA could not reach Sheshnag and had to return back. Even at the time of inspection, it was snowing at Chandanwari and beyond.
Mr Choudhary discussed the required action plan for clearing of track and erection of infrastructure facilities well in time for the yatra, which will commence on June 25. He also issued instructions for immediately starting the work at Nunwan Base Camp. Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Kifayat Rizvi, SSP Anantnag, Ramesh Jalla, Mir Altaf, CEO Pahalgam Development Authority and other district officers accompanied the CEO and deliberated on the yatra arrangements.
Meanwhile, Department of Posts will start the registration of Shri Amarnathji Yatris on behalf of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board from May 7, 2012 and this will be a major boon to the pilgrims. Hundred Post Offices across the country have been identified in this regard. This facility will be in addition to the 174 Bank Branches and via the Internet based e-registration system already announced by the Shrine Board.
According to Mr Choudhary, until last year the registration was done only through J&K Bank and YES Bank. “In a major initiative to provide convenience to the pilgrims for the registration, SASB has tied up with the Department of Posts for registration of yatris through select post offices”, he said.
According to John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, four Yatri Post Offices will be established in the Yatra route for the benefit of the pilgrims. These Yatri Post Offices will provide basic postal services, including letter post, registered post and speed post facilities to the pilgrims.
“For more than 20 years these Yatri Post Offices have been non-functional and during this year these will be revived and made fully functional”, he said, adding “during Shri Amarnathji Yatra special postal covers and picture post cards will be brought out and they will be available at Yatri Post Offices. These will be important souvenir for the Yatris”.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 30: A large number of people participated in a grand ‘Shri Jagannathji Rath Yatra’ taken out in the old city here today.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), organized this first ever “Shri Jaganath Rath Yatra” in the city of temples today.
Hundreds of  devotees,  dancing on the tune of  song “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare” and rhythm of  drum beats, attracted everyone’s sight. A large number of women and children also accompanied the yatra.
The “Rath Yatra” commenced from City Palace, Kachi Chawni, and it  passed through Parade Ground, Shalamar, Kanak Mandi, Rajinder Bazaar, Shaheedi Chowk, Raghunath Mandir, Indra Chowk, Gumat, Vinayak Bazaar, Dogra Chowk, Jewel, Canal Head, Guest House, Gole Pulli, Bohri and culminated at KK Resort, Udheywala Bohri.
Hundreds of people from the roof top of their houses and on the road were seen waiting to have the glimpse of tableaux of Lord Jaganathji, his brother Baldev and sister Subhadra, moving on a beautifully decorated chariot.
Chairman, J&K Legislative Council, Amrit Malhotra, was the Chief Guest while Madan Lal Sharma and Choudhary Lal Singh, both Members of Parliament, were the Guests of Honour.
The Rath Yatra festival of chariots originates in Puri, Orrisa and it is the oldest known festival and has been celebrated for over thousands of years.
The founder Acharya of ISKCON, C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, introduced the ‘Rath Yatra’ festival through out the world.
Among others present were Vikram Malhotra, president Rath Yatra Committee, Jai Keshav Dass, organizing president, SC Bali, president Reception Committee, HG Sarvbhaum Bhattacharya Dass, General Manager, ISKCON Jammu, Surinder Peshin and Sanjeev, festival coordinators and Rohit Bali, general secretary.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 30: Senior trade unionist and spokesperson of Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) of the State Government employees Ram Kumar today said that employees from all the three regions of the State would observe two day strike on May 8 and 9 and also conduct ‘gherao’ of the Civil Secretariat at Srinagar.
Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Kumar said  that J&K Government Employees Joint Action Committee (Jammu region), in a day long session the other day chalked out strategy to observe two day strike on the opening of the summer Secretariat in Srinagar. The employees have also decided to hold protest demonstration at Exhibition Ground Jammu on May 8 and then protest demonstration/ dharna at their respective offices the next day. Many employees from various districts shall move towards Srinagar to take part in Civil Secretariat ‘gherao’ programme.
The senior JCC member further pointed out that State Government has failed to implement the agreements and commitments made to the employees leadership on February 19, 2009,  May 14, 2010 and September 15, 2011. Even the day long token strike of employees on April 17, 2012 has fallen on deaf ears of the Government, leaving no option rather than to intensify the struggle and consolidate the ranks and file. Therefore, the JCC, an umbrella platform of the employees’ leaders, has decided to call upon the employees to observe two-day strike. He pointed out that major issues of the employees including release of pending 6th Pay Commission arrears, removal of pay anomalies, retirement age enhancement, Pay Commission benefits to all PSU workers etc have remained unattended.
He said operational staff of the PHE Department, PDD, Hospitals, Municipalities and those on exam duty has been exempted from the purview of the strike on these proposed days.
The EJAC leadership appealed the state employees from all the departments and Public Sectors Undertakings to observe complete Kam Chhorh Hartal on May 8 and 9, 2012. A rally will be held near Press Club/ Exhibition  Ground on May 8.