Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra on Thursday undertook a fresh aerial reconnaissance of both
the routes leading to the Amarnath cave shrine and reviewed
arrangements at Pahalgam and Baltal halting stations for the
annual yatra beginning on June 29.
Accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of the Shri
Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) R K Goyal and Additional CEO
Preet Pal Singh, the governor flew from Srinagar for an aerial
survey of the track upto Panjtarni, the last halting station
en route to the 3880-metre high cave in south Kashmir
Himalayas, an official spokesman said.
At the Panjtarni Camp, the governor, who is also the
chairman of SASB, spent an hour-and-a-half to review the
yatra-related arrangements, particularly with regard to water
and power supply and sanitation.
He directed that all arrangements for the yatra must
be positioned as per the envisaged timelines and reiterated
the need for very close coordination at all levels to
facilitate the visiting yatris (pilgrims).
Development Authority personnel deployed at the camp.
The Governor also had aerial reconnaissance of the
Baltal route.
On reaching Baltal, the governor went around the
Baltal base camp for nearly two hours for a detailed review of
the facilities and arrangements being made for ensuring a
smooth pilgrimage for devotees, the spokesman said.
Interacting with the officers of the SASB, district
administration and the security forces, Vohra reiterated that
the safety, security and comfort of the yatris must receive
foremost attention while positioning the various yatra-related
facilities.
At the base camp, the governor directed officials to
accord utmost importance to sanitation and cleanliness.
On this occasion, the CEO informed the governor that
the Langar (community kitchen) providers are expected to reach
the base camps in the coming week.
He said nearly 2.29 yatris have so far secured their
yatra Permits through 149 designated bank branches across the
country and Internet-based e-registration facility, for
undertaking the 45-day long pilgrimage scheduled to commence
on June 29.
The governor, who has been monitoring the arrangements
on a daily basis to ensure their completion within the set
time frame, had already visited the Baltal and Nunwan base
camps, and undertaken aerial reconnaissance during the past
weeks to review the track clearance work and completion of
arrangements on the ground well ahead of the commencement of
the pilgrimage.
PTI
