J&K: chief secy reviews Amarnath yatra arrangements

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B B Vyas today reviewed the arrangements being made for the forthcoming annual Amarnath yatra scheduled to commence on June 29 simultaneously from Baltal and Chandanwari routes.
The meeting, among others, was attended by Director General of Police S P Vaid, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Umang Narula and other civil and police officers, an official spokesman said.
He said the chief secretary reviewed the position and the preparedness till date by the various line departments for the yatra, including the restoration and up-gradation of the yatra tracks, snow clearance on both the routes, provision of power and water supply, deployment of medical response teams, sanitation arrangements and creation of landfill sites at Pahalgam and Sonamarg.

The spokesman said Vyas also reviewed the establishment of transit camps along the national highway from Lakhanpur to Sonamarg and Pahalgam, access control and security and medical care facilities.
The chief secretary asked the DGP and divisional commissioner Kashmir to strengthen the regulation at the access control gates of Domel and Chandanwari and strictly enforce the prescribed regulatory mechanisms to ensure that only registered pilgrims possessing valid yatra permits and the registered service providers enter the yatra area.
He directed the divisional commissioner Kashmir to ensure better facilities are provided to various service providers, particularly ponywallas, labourers, palkiwallas, tent and shop owners who play a vital role in the smooth conduct of the yatra, the spokesman said.

Vyas stressed upon equipping every medical camp with adequate medical and paramedical man power, medicines, equipments and other requirements and replenish them well in time.
The chief secretary asked the divisional commissioner Kashmir to sensitise the disaster management agencies and units and ensure that all disaster management related arrangements for the yatra are subsumed within the overall disaster management frame work of the state.
He also urged to ensure adequate arrangements are made for stocking of ration, fire-wood and fodder in the yatra area, the spokesman added.