On the directions of Governor N.N. Vohra, Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board is conducting an 8 day Sanitation cum Camp Cleaning Drive in two phases of all the Yatra Camps and along the Tracks.Shri Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board informed the Governor in a review meeting held today that the Sanitation Drive will be conducted in two phases: from 16thAugust, 2018 to 19th August, 2018 and 25th August, 2018 to 28th August, 2018. The cleaning and sanitation operations in the Yatrta Camps will be carried out vigorously under the personal supervision of the Camp Directors, Additional Camp Directors, Deputy Camp Directors and Officers of the Pahalgam Development Authority, Municipal Committee Pahalgam and Sonamarg Development Authority, in their respective areas of jurisdiction, and the representatives of various State Government Departments and Security Agencies deployed in the Yatra Camps.CEO further informed that one NGO, namely “Khalsa Aid” has also volunteered to help in carrying out the sanitation drive during the 2nd phase and will depute their volunteers to the Holy Cave, Panjtarni and Sheshnag Camps for cleaning the camps, including the tracks from Holy Cave to Baltal and Sheshnag to Chandanwari. Governor was further informed that General Manager (Works), General Manager (Sanitation) and Deputy General Managers on the Baltal and Pahalgam axis, shall visit the various Yatra Camps and both the Tracks to closely monitor the Sanitarian cum Cleaning Drive.
CEO informed Governor that keeping in view its commitment to protect the environment in the Yatra area, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board had continued to carry out sanitation/ cleaning works right from start of the Yatra. All plastic and other non-biodegradable wastes is being regularly collected from the Yatra Camps, from the tracks and all along the hill slopes, and brought down to Baltal and Nunwan where these are crushed in the shredding machines specially installed for the purpose. CEO further stated that directed by the Governor the Camp Directors Nunwan and Baltal are devoting special attention to ensure complete cleanliness all along the banks of Lidder and Sind rivers.Appreciating the good work already done to keep the Yatra Camps and Tracks clean Governor directed CEO to keep a close watch to ensure cleanliness and sanitation in all Camps and along the track and particularly ensure against any waste/ plastic materials being thrown into the water bodies. Governor further directed that Camp Directors, Additional Camp Directors, Deputy Camp Directors, CEOS of PDA and SDA and the head of each involved Agency should ensure that all bio-degradable and non-biodegradable wastes, including plastic wastes, are disposed off in accordance with the Action Plan already approved by him and the Yatra Camps and Tracks must be totally free from any waste whatsoever at the conclusion of the Yatra on 26th August 2018.