In a Review Meeting held at the Raj Bhavan here today Shri P.K. Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer of the Board, informed the Governor N.N. Vohra, Chairman of the Board, that till 5th July 2,47,634 Yatris had obtained Advance Registration through 432 designated branches of the Punjab National Bank, J&K Bank and Yes Bank, which are located in 32 States in the country. CEO reported that the Advance Registration for the current Yatra had marked a significant improvement because of the sustained awareness campaign carried out by the CEO’s office throughout the past year. In this context, the CEO reported that as up to 5th July last year 2,25,095 pilgrims had secured Advance Registration. CEO further reported that, almost on the same pattern as in the previous years, the largest number of pilgrims who had secured Advance Registration were from U.P., Punjab, Maharashtra, M.P and Gujarat States.For the pilgrims who had failed to secure Advance Registration, for whatever reason, the Shrine Board has provided opportunity for On-spot Registration. CEO reported that this year facilities had been established at four places in Jammu viz Vaishnavi Dham, Saraswati Dham, Mahajan Sabha, Sangam Resort and Ram Mandir (for Sadhus only). In Srinagar this facility has been provided at the Tourist Reception Centre, Nowgam. The CEO has been releasing slots for On-spot Registration after taking into account the number of slots against which Advance Registration has already been issued. Thus, for the first eight days of the Yatra, 2nd - 9th July, the CEO has released about 14500 slots for both the routes.
These slots are available on first-come first-served basis. For On-spot Registration the pilgrim requires to furnish the prescribed Application along with a Compulsory Health Certificate which has been issued by an authorised Doctor.To ensure against avoidable inconvenience on arrival in Jammu and Kashmir the CEO has once again urged all intending pilgrims to obtain Advance Registration at their home stations before embarking upon the Yatra. He has also advised Yatris to be extremely careful and not secure Yatra Permits from any unauthorised person as certain reports have been received by him that fraudulent persons were unlawfully issuing fake Registration Permits, against whom enquiries have already been commissioned. CEO again reiterated that even the registered Yatris shall be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage only on the date and route for which they are registered. He also advised the pilgrims to strictly follow the Do’s and Don’ts and the Health Advisory issued by the Shrine Board and come fully prepared for undertaking this arduous pilgrimage.Governor asked CEO to reiterate directions to all concerned for the required steps being taken to ensure cleanliness and sanitation in all Camps and direct all concerned agencies to see that pilgrims, service providers and others visiting the Shrine area do not litter the hills. He particularly stressed the need for ensuring against any plastic materials being thrown into the nullahs and the Deputy Commissioners being once again reminded to effectively enforce the ban on plastic materials.