KL Report
SRINAGAR
For the smooth Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2013, the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir NN Vohra, who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board today visited the Yatra Base Camps at Baltal and Pahalgam and conducted an aerial survey of the entire Yatra route to review the snow situation and preparedness for making timely arrangements. The upcoming Yatra will commence from June 28, 2013.
As per a statement the Governor inspected the ongoing construction work of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at the Baltal and Nunwan Yatra Base Camps and directed the concerned officials to complete it well before the commencement of the Yatra. He has also inspected the treatment blocks being constructed for the treatment of wastes from the Langars. The Governor has hoped that with the completion of the STPs at the Base Camps and the flows from the toilet blocks and Langars being connected to the STPs would eliminate concerns about environmental pollution. He has also directed that all the toilets, at every Camp location, should be connected to proper waste disposal systems and foolproof arrangements should be made for maintaining cleanliness of toilet facilities.
The Governor has directed the CEOs of Pahalgam Development Authority and Sonamarg Development Authority to make effective arrangements for the daily collection and dumping of garbage and stressed the need to identify suitable dumping sites and making all arrangements for the disposal of garbage on scientific lines. The Governor was informed that considering the heavy rush during entire summer due to the Yatra and the tourist season, a Project Report for the identification and development of suitable garbage disposal sites near Pahalgam and Sonamarg has been prepared and the necessary clearance in this regard is being obtained.
While reviewing the arrangements for providing medical facilities to the pilgrims, the Governor has impressed upon the Chief Medical Officers of Islamabad and Ganderbal districts to set up medical camps with adequate manpower, equipments and medicines. He has also directed that each medical centre should have proper toilet facilities as well as water supply connections. He asked both the Deputy Commissioners to ensure effective coordination in this regard.
The Governor has also impressed upon the PHE department to make suitable projects to lay underground water supply facility at the Base Camp locations to avoid unnecessary expenditure being incurred every year for bringing water supply pipes and transporting them back after every Yatra. The PHE officials have informed that underground water supply pipe is being laid at the Baltal Base Camp and for other camp locations a suitable Project Report would be prepared.
The PDD officials informed that while electricity supply has been restored upto Neelgrath and Chandanwari, the same would be done upto Domel in one week’s time. The power supply at other Camp locations would be operational by June 10, 2013 positively. The Governor has asked the PDD officials to make sure that adequate diesel supply for the Generator sets at Holy Cave, Panjtarni and Sheshnag is ensured in order to have uninterrupted telecom facilities.
The Governor has stressed upon the police authorities of the two districts to ensure that all regulatory measures are undertaken to ensure that only registered Yatris are able to cross the Access Control Gates at Chandanwari and Baltal. He has also stressed that under no circumstances Yatris should be allowed to move beyond the Access Control Gates after the cut-off time fixed for the day. He also stressed the need for proper traffic management and directed the traffic officers to ensure proper parking of vehicles on the road leading to Pahalgam and Chandanwari and appropriate traffic management at Baltal Base Camp by way of making the alternate route from Baltal to Neelgrath functional for one way traffic. The Governor has also directed Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir to coordinate with Army authorities to make shifting of Baltal Helipad to Neelgrath possible with effect from Yatra 2014. This move will help decongest Baltal Base Camp.
