Governor N N Vohra, Chairman, alongwith Mr. P.K. Tripathi, CEO, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, conducted an aerial survey of the entire Shri Amarnathji Yatra area, along both the routes. He travelled along the Baltal-Domel-Sangam-Panjtarni-Sheshnag-Chandanwari-Pahalgam axis to gain a first hand view of the existing snow accumulation levels.As of now, the Yatra Camp sites at Panjtarni, Sheshnag and Holy Cave, the tracks from Chandanwari onwards on the Pahalgam axis, and some stretches from Domel onwards, on the Baltal axis, are covered and snow clearing work is in progress in these areas.The restoration of the tracks on the Chandanwari -Holy Cave axis is being taken up by the Pahalgam Development Authority and on the Baltal-Holy Cave axis by the State PWD. This important work shall be able to gain the required momentum if the weather conditions remain fair. The Governor impressed upon the concerned agencies to immediately increase the pace of ongoing work and ensure that the tracks are cleared and repaired and all the facilities required for the Yatra are put in place well in time.During his day long visit to the Yatra area, after completing the aerial recce the Governor held review meetings at the Baltal and Nunwan Yatra Base Camps with Mr. Tariq Hussain, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal; Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag; Mr. Imitaz Ismail Parray, Senior Superintendent of Police Ganderbal; Mr. Abdul Jabbar, Senior Superintendent of Police Anantnag and all other concerned Divisional and District level officers. The Governor directed the Labour and Animal Husbandry Departments to ensure the proper registration of Ponies and the Pony-wallas, Dandi-wallas, Palki-wallas and the authorized strength of the Pithus (labour). He directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that laminated Photo Identity Cards are issued to all legitimate workers to see that no unauthorized person is allowed to enter the narrow tracks. The Governor discussed arrangements regarding the provision of safety measures at the Nunwan and the Baltal Base Camps, particularly Fire and Emergency services, installing and making Fire Hydrants functional at Baltal, Domail and Nunwan and setting up of Joint Control Rooms. He directed CEO to ensure that all Camp Directors were fully oriented to enforcing the required day to day regulation of the movements, stay etc of the pilgrims.
The Governor directed GM (Works) to ensure that all the toilets and baths, at every Camp location, are connected to proper waste disposal systems and foolproof arrangements are made for maintaining cleanliness of toilet facilities, at all times. He further directed that the CEOs of the Pahalgam and the Sonamarg Development Authorities shall be responsible for making effective arrangements for the daily collection of all garbage which would then be transported to the sites which have been identified by the Deputy Commissioners in consultation with the State Pollution Control Board Authorities.While reviewing the arrangements for the provision of medical facilities for the pilgrims, the Governor directed the Deputy Commissioners and the Chief Medical Officers of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts to ensure that every medical camp was equipped with adequate medical and para-medical manpower, equipments, medicines and other requirements. Governor observed that as the Base Hospitals at Panjtarni and Sheshnag are this year being set up in the repaired pucca structures which have been in existence for 25-30 years, at least 50% of stock of medicines should be stored at these camps right in the beginning and supplies to the other Medical Aid Centres (MACs) and Emergency Aid Centres (EACs) in the area are also moved well in time. He also directed that every medical centre should have proper toilet facilities and water supply.
The Governor was informed that the PHE Department has since completed the work of laying underground pipes for water supply at the Baltal, Nunwan and Sheshnag Camps and installation of Fire Hydrants at Baltal and Domail is in progress. The Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts informed that the work relating to the grant of permissions for the setting up of tents and shops in the Camp areas is in progress, for which draw of lots have been made in a fully transparent manner. The Governor directed the Deputy Commissioners to particularly ensure that the Lay Out Plan prepared for every Camp location is strictly adhered to and the tents, shops and langars are pitched strictly as per the lay out on the ground. He also directed that while marking the Lay Out Plan on the ground it must be ensured that adequate fire gaps are provided and, further, the quality of the tents must be examined before they are pitched.The Governor stressed on the Police officers to ensure that all regulatory measures are most strictly enforced to ensure that every registered Yatri is enabled to cross the Access Control Gates at Chandanwari and Baltal without any inconvenience. The CAPD officials informed the Governor that adequate arrangements are being made for stocking rations, fire-wood and fuels for the coming Yatra.
The Review Meeting at Nunwan was attended by Mr. P.K Tripathi, Principal Secretary to Governor and CEO, SASB; Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag; Mr. Nitish Kumar, DIG (SKR) Anantnag; Mr. Amar Singh Negi, DIG CRPF, Awantipora; Mr. Raja Chakarvorty, Commander, 1st Sector RR; Mr. Abdul Jabbar, SSP, Anantnag; Mr. Irshad Ahmad, SSP, Kulgam; Mr. Muhammad Younis Malik, Additional District Development Commissioner Anantnag; Mr. Rajnish Alawat, Commandant, 40 Bn CRPF, Anantnag; Mr. Raj Kumar, Commandant 116 Batallion, CRPF Pahalgam; Mr. Showkat Ahmad, SE, PWD (R&B) Circle, Anantnag; Mr. R.K Gupta, SE, Hydraulic, Anantnag; Mr. Javed Yousuf, SE, Electric, M & RE Circle, Bijbehara; Mr. Bashir Ahmad, Executive Engineer PHE, Bijbehara; Mr. Mohd. Ashraf Katoo, DFO, Lidder Division, Bijbehara; Mr. Riyaz Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer, PDA, Pahalgam; Mr. Nisar Ahmad Nisar, SDM, Pahalgam; Dr. Tahir Hussain, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Anantnag; Mr. Abdul Rehman, Deputy Director Fire & Emergency Services, Anantnag; Mr. Jan Mohd. District Informatics Officer, Anantnag; Mr. Shakoor Ahmad, District Information Officer, Anantnag; Mr. Primrose Bashir ARTO, Anantnag; Ms. Zahida Parveen, Assistant Director Tourism, Pahalgam; Mr. Abdul Rashid, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Anantnag; Mr. Ashfaq Hussain Makhdoomi, Depot Manager, SRTC, Anantnag, Mr. Tariq Ahmad, Executive Officer, Municipal Committee Pahalgam; and Mr. Bhavsar DE, BSNL Ltd. Anantnag
The Review Meeting at Baltal was attended by Mr. P.K Tripathi, Principal Secretary to Governor and CEO SASB; Mr. Jitendra K. Singh, Addl CEO, SASB; Mr. Tariq Hussain Ganai, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal; Mr. Imtiaz Ismail Parray, Sr. Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal; Mr. Zubair Ahmed, Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic (Rural), Srinagar; Mr. Sami Arif, Superintending Engineer, R & B, Ganderbal; Mr. G. A Mir, Superintending Engineer, Electric M & RE, Ganderbal; Mr. Qazi Sarwar, CEO, Sonamarg Development Authority; Mr. Ghulam Mohd. Mir, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Kangan; Mr. Showkat Jeelani Pandit, Executive Engineer, R & B, Ganderbal; Mr. Abdul Karim, Executive Engineer, Electric M&RE, Ganderbal; Mr. G.M Nazki, Executive Engineer, PHE, Ganderbal; Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Executive Engineer, Irrigation & FC, Ganderbal; Mr. Sant Kumar Singh, Officer Commanding, Beacon, 122 RCC, Ganderbal; Mr. Shabir Ahmed, Divisional Forest Officer, Sindh Forest Division Ganderbal; Dr. R.D Kasana, Chief Medical Officer, Ganderbal; Dr. Rafique Sheikh, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Ganderbal; Dr. Haroon Rashid, Tehsildar (HQA), Ganderbal (Nodal Officer Yatra-16); Mr. Mohd. Aslam, Tehsildar, Gund ; Mr. Firdous Ahmad Qadri, Tehsildar, Lar / Kangan; Mr. Jamsheed Iqbal, Assistant Regional Transport Officer, Ganderbal; Mr. G.M Mir, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Ganderbal; Mtr. Khaleeda Amin, Designated Officer Food Safety; Mr. Ghulam Nabi, Assistant Director, CAPD, Ganderbal; Mr. Habibullah, Deputy Superintendent of Police, SDRF, Ganderbal; Mr. Mohd. Yasin, Deputy Registrar Cooperative, Ganderbal; Mr. Nazir Ahmed, Executive officer, Municipal Committee, Ganderbal; Mr. Mohd. Yousuf, District Officer, Pollution Control Board, Ganderbal and Mr. Faheem Ashai, SDO, BSNL, Ganderbal.