KL Report
SRINAGAR
NN Vohra, Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, the Chairman of the Amarnath Shrine Board, presided over the 28th Board Meeting held Sunday at Raj Bhavan, Jammu.
Regarding the duration and date of commencement of Yatra 2015, the Board relied upon the approach set out by the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Committee, which had been set up to advise the Board regarding the duration and schedule of future Yatras, an official statement said.
“The Board noted that during Yatra 2014 there was heavy snow accumulation on the Chandanwari – Cave track, particularly on Sheshnag – Panjtarni stretch, which had delayed the commencement of Yatra on the Pahalgam route, which could finally start only from 2nd July, 2014. Keeping in view the safety and security of the pilgrims, the Board decided that Yatra 2015 shall commence on 2nd July, 2015, an auspicious day of Purshotam Purnima as per the Hindu Calendar, and conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on 29th August 2015. On this basis the Yatra this year shall be of 59 days duration. It was decided that the CEO shall arrange a special Pooja on Jyesth Purnima, on 2nd of June, 2015. The Pooja shall, as possible, take place at any suitable location in the Yatra area to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva for the smooth and safe conduct of the pilgrimage.”
The statement said that considering the present carrying capacity of the tracks and other available infrastructure in the Yatra area, the Board decided that 7,500 Yatris, excluding Yatris who would travel by heli-copters to Panjtarni, would be allowed to register for Yatr-2015 on per day per route basis.
“On this basis there would be about 16000 pilgrims on the tracks every day. The Board further decided that the registration process should commence from 1st March 2015.”
The Board, the statement said, directed that the CEO should frequently publicise that the intending Yatris must furnish the prescribed Compulsory Health Certificate, issued by the authorised Doctors / Medical Institutes, before seeking registration for the Yatra.
