Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday inaugurated the Yatri Niwas of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board at Pantha Chowk here and dedicated the new facility to pilgrims.
The Yatri Niwas has been built through donations and will accommodate 1,300 pilgrims.
“This Yatri Niwas is a symbol of our dedication and commitment to providing better facilities for the devotees of Baba Barfani and make their pilgrimage more comfortable and safer. The construction of the second phase of the Yatri Niwas will begin soon. It symbolises devotion to selfless service. Let us pray to Baba Amarnath to bless our land with peace, happiness and prosperity,” the LG said.
Sinha expressed gratitude to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) member Mukesh Garg, his team members and the board for their invaluable contribution in building the Yatri Niwas.
Interacting with reporters, Sinha said the board is making continuous efforts to improve facilities for the pilgrims.
“A wave of enthusiasm is sweeping across Jammu and Kashmir. This yatra is deeply rooted in the spirit of Jammu and Kashmir, drawing full support and cooperation from its people,” he said.
On the occasion, the LG also unveiled a painting of the annual pilgrimage by K K Gandhi.
The 38-day annual Amarnath Yatra to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas is scheduled to begin on July 3.
The five floors of the Yatri Niwas building dedicated to the pilgrims comprise a total of 75 rooms having a bed capacity of 225, and 43 dorm rooms.
The LG also visited Baltal Base Camp and reviewed the preparedness ahead of the annual pilgrimage.
At Baltal, the LG interacted with the Camp officials and reviewed the arrangements for healthcare, power, communication, water supply, sanitation, food, lodging, weather forecasting, traffic management, surveillance and maintenance of track, security grid and emergency services, an official press release informed.
It said the LG directed the officials to ensure round the clock availability of all the basic amenities with adequate manpower for the convenience of the pilgrims.
During his visit, the LG conducted the on-site inspection and ascertained the progress of the disaster management and Yatri Niwas Complex of SASB.
He also visited the hospital at Baltal Base Camp, and inspected the healthcare facilities for the pilgrims and inaugurated a training ward for medical staff.
“Significant upgradation done to the overall Yatra arrangements. Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, administration, police, security forces, service providers, all line departments and stakeholders have diligently implemented pilgrim-centric measures to ensure the pilgrimage is peaceful, safe, and hassle-free for devotees,” the LG said.
LG Sinha launches RDD’s IEC campaign for sustainable, zero-waste pilgrimage
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, during his visit to Baltal today, launched a comprehensive IEC (Information, Education & Communication) campaign and various innovative initiatives of the Directorate of Rural Sanitation, Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, for a sustainable and zero-waste pilgrimage.
The initiatives include Yatra Logo, Yatra Anthem, campaign website and MIS portal, Trinetra App, Pamphlet & Yatra Guidelines, Yatra Mascots and IEC toolkit aimed to promote sustainable practices, address sanitation issues, share verified information, and engage Yatris through feedback along the Baltal and Pahalgam axis, with the goal of achieving a Zero Landfill Yatra.
The campaign website www.shriamarnathjiyatra.com and an MIS portal will serve as the central hub for all information, updates, and resources, while the browser-based mobile application www.zerowasteyatra.app will provide real-time information and support to the pilgrims, an official press release informed.
It said pamphlet and Yatra guidelines, designed for Langar organizers, shopkeepers, and service providers along the Yatra route are focused on ensuring waste minimization, discourage single-use plastics, and implement SBM-G norms.
Trinetra App will significantly enhance the pilgrim experience through sanitation facilities, safety alerts and making them aware of the values of cleanliness during their pilgrimage.
Anoo Malhotra, Director General, Rural Sanitation briefed the LG on dedicated measures taken by the department to make the yatra more sustainable.
It was informed that the department has installed a total of 5613 toilets/bathing units, on both the axis, of which 2920 are on the Pahalgam axis and 2693 are on the Baltal axis. Further, 7361 sanitation workers are deployed to ensure cleanliness of these sanitation units. The department has also established 15 processing facilities for solid waste management on both the axis.
