J-K Governor reviews security arrangements for Amarnath Yatra

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N Vohra, who is also the chairman of Amarnathji Shrine Board, chaired a high-level meeting at Raj Bhavan here today to review each of the important security related issues in regard to the Amarnathji Yatra which is scheduled to commence on June 29.

The security review meeting involved the state Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Director General Police, Heads of State and Central Intelligence Agencies, GOC XV Corps, GOC Victor Force, senior most officers of the Central Armed Police Forces, Divisional Commissioner, and Inspector General of Police Kashmir, besides the CEO and Additional CEO of the Shrine Board.

The Governor advised all concerned agencies to keep a sustained close watch and maintain effective co-ordination to ensure the smooth conduct of the forthcoming Yatra.

He directed the Director General of Police (DGP) and Kashmir Divisional Administration to strictly enforce the prescribed regulatory mechanisms and ensure that only those pilgrims who possessed valid Yatra Permits were allowed to undertake the Yatra on the date and by the route for which they had procured advance registration.

Noting that the various service providers, particularly ponywallahs, labourers, palki wallahs, tent and shop owners etc. play a very important role in the smooth conduct of Amarnathji Yatra, the Governor directed Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and IGP Kashmir to ensure that all the Service Providers were enabled to function in a safe and secure environment in the Yatra area.

The Governor observed that the Shrine Board has already insured all the Service Providers with an Insurance cover of Rs. 1 lakh and ponies for Rs. 30,000 each against accidental death in the Yatra area.

The Governor advised the Chief Secretary to sensitize the Disaster Management agencies and ensure that all disaster management related arrangements for the Yatra are subsumed within the overall disaster management framework of the state.

He directed Chief Secretary, GoC Hqrs 15 Corps and all security agencies to pool their disaster related resources at designated locations in the Yatra area.

The Governor was informed about the steps being taken by the Pahalgam and Sonamarg Development Authorities for the proper collection and disposal of solid wastes which would be generated during the Yatra.

He directed that the arrangements being made for the daily collection and disposal of garbage and maintenance of cleanliness in all the Camps should be monitored on day to day basis.

The meeting was attended by B. B. Vyas, Chief Secretary; Dr. S.P. Vaid, Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir; Lt. Gen. J.S. Sandhu, AVSM, VSM, GOC, Hqrs. 15 Corps; Maj. Gen. B S Raju, GOC Hqrs Victor Force; Mr. Umang Narula, Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer, Amarnathji Shrine Board; R. K. Goyal, Principal Secretary Home; Baseer Ahmed Khan, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; A. G. Mir, Inspector General of Police CID, Jammu and Kashmir; Syed Javaid Mujataba Gilani, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Muneer Ahmed Khan, IGP; Zulifiqar Hasan, Inspector General CRPF (Ops), Kashmir; Sonali Mishra, Inspector General BSF, Kashmir; Air Commodore V.S Choudhary, VM, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Srinagar; Ravi Deep Singh Sahi, Inspector General CRPF, Srinagar Sector; A.V Chauhan, Inspector General CRPF, Jammu Sector and Jitendra Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Amarnathji Shrine Board.