SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday reviewed security and civic preparations for the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra at Baltal and directed all stakeholder departments to ensure that all facilities are in place for a safe, comfortable and well-organised pilgrimage. He also launched the Directorate of Rural Sanitation’s “Shubham-Shivam” campaign and a series of eco-friendly initiatives aimed at making the annual pilgrimage sustainable and zero-landfill.
Chairing a high-level meeting with senior civil, police and security officials at Baltal, the Lieutenant Governor reviewed infrastructure, security arrangements and the overall preparedness for the annual pilgrimage.
“My priority is that every pilgrim can enjoy the spiritual journey and leave with a truly enriching and fulfilling experience. The sacred Yatra is a moment of faith and shared joy. I want the arrangements to reflect that spirit, ensuring that pilgrims are well cared for,” Sinha said.
The Lieutenant Governor reviewed arrangements related to sanitation, evacuation plans, weather forecasting, holding areas, parking facilities, langars, transport, healthcare services, drinking water, power supply, buffer stocks of essential commodities, road maintenance, flood mitigation measures, disaster management preparedness, animal husbandry services, registration counters and other essential infrastructure.
He directed the police and other security agencies to maintain the highest level of vigilance and ensure robust coordination for the safety and security of pilgrims. Stressing efficient pilgrim management, he also instructed the concerned departments to increase the number of on-the-spot registration counters to reduce waiting time for devotees.
During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal presented an overview of preparations by various departments, while the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal, briefed the Lieutenant Governor on security arrangements, including deployment of personnel, surveillance, access control, traffic management and emergency response mechanisms.
Earlier, the Lieutenant Governor launched the “Shubham-Shivam” Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign at the Baltal base camp to promote cleanliness and environmental sustainability during the pilgrimage.
Describing the campaign as a major step towards achieving a clean and zero-landfill Yatra, Sinha also unveiled a new website, pilgrimage anthem, logo and mascot for the initiative.
He said sanitation workers and volunteers would play a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness along the Yatra routes and at the base camps, calling them the “real heroes” behind the zero-waste vision.
Among the initiatives launched were the “Trayambakam” mobile application, which allows pilgrims to report waste through photographs for immediate action, the “Swaha” utensil bank promoting reusable steel utensils, and the “Amarnath Seva Cafe”, where pilgrims can exchange collected plastic waste for refreshments.
The Lieutenant Governor also announced a regulatory framework mandating four-way waste segregation, a complete ban on single-use plastic and prescribed sanitation standards for all langars and camps to strengthen environmental protection during the pilgrimage.
