Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials at Baltal in Ganderbal and reviewed the preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra-2026,
The meeting was attended by K.N. Rai, Member, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board; Nalin Prabhat, DGP J&K; S.J.M.Gillani, Special DG Coordination PHQ; Dr. Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to LG and CEO Shri Amarnath Shrine Board; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Rahul Yadav, Managing Director JKPDCL and Nodal Officer for Baltal Axis; VK Birdi, IGP Kashmir; M. Suleman Choudhary, IGP Traffic J&K; Rajiv Omprakashn, DIG CKR; Jatin Kishore, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal; Sudhanshu Dhama, SSP Ganderbal; Shreya Singhal, Director Information; Anoo Malhotra, DG Rural Sanitation J&K and senior officers of civil administration, police and security forces, an official press release informed.
It said the LG reviewed the infrastructure, security measures, and overall arrangements to ensure that all preparations are complete.
The LG directed all the stakeholder departments to make certain that all amenities are in place and that devotees of Lord Shiva are welcomed into an environment that is safe, comfortable, and well-organized.
“My priority is that every pilgrim can enjoy the spiritual journey and leave with a truly enriching and fulfilling experience. The sacred Yatra is a moment of faith, and shared joy. I want the arrangements to reflect that spirit, ensuring that ‘Teerth Yatris’ are well cared for,” the LG said.
The LG reviewed the arrangements in place with regard to sanitation, evacuation plan, weather forecasting, holding areas for pilgrims, parking facilities, langars, transportation, healthcare services, drinking water and power supply, buffer stock of essential commodities, road maintenance, flood mitigation measures, disaster management preparedness, animal husbandry services, registration counters and other essential infrastructure.
The LG directed the police and other security agencies to maintain the highest level of vigilance and ensure robust coordination for the safety and security of all pilgrims.
Stressing the importance of efficient pilgrim management, the LG instructed the concerned departments to increase the number of on-the-spot registration counters to facilitate quicker registration and minimize waiting time for devotees.
Sinha also visited Baltal Base Camp with senior officers and took stock of the health, lodging, and other pilgrim-centric facilities there.
The LG interacted with service providers and officials and directed them to ensure the highest standards of cleanliness, upkeep, and pilgrim-service management.
The LG also visited the Baltal Base Camp Hospital, where he inspected the healthcare infrastructure, including wards, laboratories, emergency facilities and patient care arrangements.
He interacted with doctors, paramedical staff and healthcare workers, appreciating their commitment and directed them to ensure round-the-clock availability of quality medical services, adequate medicines, emergency equipment and specialist care for the pilgrims throughout the Yatra.
Interacting with the media-persons, the LG said: “Preparations for the Amarnath Yatra have been underway for the past several months with the joint efforts of the Shrine Board, the administration, Government of India and all concerned departments. Comprehensive security and other arrangements are in place. I am hopeful this year’s Yatra will surpass the success of the previous years.”
LG launches ‘Swachh Yatra’ IEC Campaign and Eco-Interventions for Amarnath Yatra
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today launched the Directorate of Rural Sanitation’s “Shubham–Shivam” campaign at Baltal base camp.
The LG said the campaign is a massive step to achieve a sustainable, clean and zero-landfill Amarnath Yatra. Along with a slew of eco-innovations, the LG also unveiled the new website, pilgrimage anthem, logo, and mascot, an official press release informed.
“The true backbone of this initiative is our incredible sanitation team. I am grateful for Karmyogi volunteers, whose relentless dedication will keep the base camp and both the tracks clean in the days ahead. They are the real heroes turning our zero-waste vision into reality, preserving the environment and the profound spiritual dignity of the Amarnath pilgrimage,” the LG said.
He also stated that all the innovative initiatives of Directorate of Rural Sanitation rest on devotion and discipline, and they must be carried out conscientiously and responsibly by every stakeholder. The LG said that the vision of Shubham–Shivam sends a clear message to every pilgrim, every langar, and every service provider on this journey that preservation of ecology and all its natural resources are a sacred duty.
“A clean, sustainable, zero landfill Amarnath Yatra is a firm declaration that despite the harshest geographical conditions, ensuring cleanliness is our collective responsibility. An outstanding example of this commitment is the ‘Trayambakam’ mobile application. It is a simple, intuitive, and useful tool through which any pilgrim can send a photo of waste or litter at a location and ensure immediate action.
“The circular economy initiatives are also highly commendable. The ‘Swaha’ utensil bank, where steel plates and cups are used against a small security deposit, conveys to every pilgrim that convenience and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand,” Sinha said.
The “Amarnath Seva Cafe” turns waste collection into an act of service and participation. Exchanging collected plastic for tea and snacks is not only a transaction but it signals that true devotion to ‘Baba Barfani’ manifests through active participation in keeping the pilgrimage clean, the LG said.
He also announced the regulatory framework including four way segregation — a complete ban on single use plastic, and prescribed sanitation standards for each langar and camp to lay a strong foundation for environmental protection.
“Directorate of Rural Sanitation’s official logo, featuring Lord Shiva and 34 tridents arranged around him, reminds us that protecting this holy land and its environment is our shared duty. The pilgrimage anthem ‘Swachhta Dharma Hamara’ will surely resonate in pilgrims’ hearts in the same way as Baba’s blessing and the echo of these mountains remain with them long after the journey ends. I extend my best wishes to the thousands of workers who will operate on these difficult routes in the coming days. Let us resolve today that Baba Amarnath’s sacred pilgrimage will be an unparalleled experience for pilgrims from across the country and abroad,” the LG said.
