Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan Saturday reviewed the arrangements for the annual Amarnath Yatra at the Baltal base camp, an official spokesman said.
He said the divisional commissioner visited Baltal base camp at Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district where he convened a meeting to have a first-hand assessment of the preparedness put in place for the smooth conduct of the yatra scheduled to start from July 1.
Khan was accompanied by Central Kashmir Deputy Inspector General of Police V K Birdi, District Development Commissioner (DDC) Ganderbal Hashmat Ali Khan, and other senior officers of police and civil administration, the spokesman said.
Taking an extensive review of the arrangements put in place to facilitate the pilgrims, the Divisional Commissioner asked all the departments concerned, service providers and all other agencies to complete the entire remaining work pertaining to their departments before the deadline so that all the arrangements and logistics are positioned well in time before the commencement of the yatra, the spokesman said.
He said Khan, while reviewing the positioning and the disaster management measures, emphasised the need for ensuring prompt response in case of any emergent situation. For this purpose, he asked all the agencies concerned to ensure greater coordination at all levels.
During the visit, he directed the officials that tents and ‘langars’ (community kitchen) should be strictly installed as per the layout design already formulated and urged for ensuring that all camps and ‘langars’ have fire extinguisher equipment.
The Divisional Commissioner asked the Roads and Buildings Department to ensure repair, renovation and restoration of the yatra route well before the commencement of the yatra and directed for special focus on slippery tracks/ areas and other critical spots including camping sites of Domail, Railpathri and the Holy cave.
The Disaster Management Director informed that mock and tabletop drills shall be started before the commencing of the yatra and Khan directed to keep sufficient teams of NDRF available from Baltal to the cave shrine with necessary equipment, the spokesman said.
Central Kashmir DIG reviewed security arrangements of the transit camps locations at Manigam, base camp Baltal and Domail, besides the sanitisation of road stretch from Pandach up to Baltal and other neighbouring hinterlands, a police spokesman said.
He said Birdi was briefed in detail about security arrangements for the upcoming yatra.
During his visit, the DIG held a detailed meeting with all stakeholders – Army, CRPF, ITBP, SDRF, district police and representatives of the civil administration, the spokesman said.
The DIG also reviewed traffic management for the pilgrims and the availability of parking spaces, he said.
