Srinagar: To ensure that all the necessary arrangements for Amarnath Yatra are put in place by departments and agencies to facilitate pilgrims who shall be visiting the holy cave, the Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri today visited the holy cave to take a first-hand appraisal of arrangements.
During the visit, Div Com took stock of various facilities including health, sanitation, toilets, electricity, drinking water, langars, and tents installed by concerned departments, an official press release informed.
It said on the occasion, he directed the concerned officers to depute their expert teams to ensure the facilities are properly extended to Yatries during the period of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
He instructed them to make all services functional well before the commencement of the yatra.
Addressing the officers of concerned departments, the Div Com instructed Director of Health Services Kashmir to keep all medical aid handy to tackle any emergency issues of pilgrims.
Similarly, he directed the concerned for a regular supply of electricity which will further ensure the delivery of other services.
He cautioned officers for any lapse that may cause inconvenience to pilgrims while performing their religious duties.
He also stressed on proper disposal of solid waste to avoid environmental pollution in the area.
Officers of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, Flood & Irrigation, KPDCL, Sanitation, Police, and Health, were present on the occasion.
Meeting held to coordinate security measures for Yatra
A joint meeting of various security agencies was held in Udhampur district on Sunday to ensure coordination for the annual Amarnath Yatra beginning next month.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army’s Delta Force Maj Gen Ajay Kumar chaired the meeting which was among others attended by senior police and intelligence officers, officials said.
In a tweet after the meeting, Jammu-based White Knight Corps said, “The security forces and civil administration are working hand-in-hand to ensure a successful yatra”.
The 62-day long pilgrimage will commence on July 1 from the twin tracks — the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The first batch of pilgrims will leave for the yatra from Jammu on June 30.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar visited Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, the main base camp for the pilgrims in Jammu, and took stock of arrangements for the comfortable stay of the pilgrims and their safety.
Kumar reviewed in detail provision of transportation, accommodation for pilgrims, setting up of ‘langars’ (community kitchens), communication centres, medical facilities, deployment of medical teams, sanitation, installation of temporary toilets and mobile toilet vans, uninterrupted supply of electricity, adequate water supply and traffic arrangements, an official said.
The Divisional Commissioner has sought deployment of a sufficient number of personnel and installation of additional CCTV cameras.
He also instructed the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to start beautification of the city. At the same time, the tourism department was asked to install hoardings and banners on prominent locations, right from Lakhanpur, the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir bordering Punjab, to showcase the tourist destinations of Jammu region to attract tourists to these places.
