Guv reviews Amarnath Yatra preparations

The Governor, also chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), met police and district officials at the Raj Bhavan to review preparations for the yatra.

It was decided at the meeting that the state PWD would approach the Union Road Transport and Highways ministry for improvement and upgradation of the Baltal route to the holy cave shrine, officials said.

The Governor directed the SASB CEO to visit Pahalgam and Baltal to check the status of snow-melting.

The BJP accused the SASB of stoking a controversy over dates regarding commencement of the Yatra.

"The report of the SASB sub-committee on dates for the yatra is contradictory," BJP spokesman Jitendra Singh told reporters here.

He said at one place, the sub-committee suggested June 25 as the auspicious day to start the pilgrimage.

In the very next paragraph, the sub-committee referred to the possibility of beginning the annual yatra from June 17 which it also termed as the auspicious day, Singh added. PTI AB KAS RKC