Amarnath Yatra: Sanitation measures being put in place in full swing

Anantnag: As AmartnathYatra 2022 is all set to be held after a gap of 2 years, the District Administration Anantnag has set in motion a detailed sanitation plan to ensure cleanliness in the district.
Municipal Committees and Community Development blocks falling on the Yatra route are buzzing with activities in ensuring that all necessary conveniences are ready for use by the time the Yatra commences.
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag, Dr PiyushSingla said that an all-encompassing sanitation plan has been developed in consultation with various stakeholders.
He said black spot identification has been completed along the route and the process for removal of black spots is underway. He said that strict directions have been issued to officers, particularly BDOs, that measures be put in place to ensure that garbage dumping at such spots is restricted even after completion of Yatra.
Similarly, with regard to CSCs and toilet blocks along the Yatra route, beautification estimates have been framed and beautification works have been completed on many such units. Dr Singla said that this year sufficient resources have been deployed to make these CSCs attractive and maintenance manpower deployed which will work in shifts for 24 hours a day.
He said that 14 toilet blocks have been constructed by RDD along the routes which are all functional. He said in addition to these, 22 toilet blocks are under tendering and shall be completed well before the commencement of annual amaranth yatra.
Other than RDD, toilet blocks have also been constructed by PW R&B, MC Pahalgam, MC Bijbehara, MC Anantnag and MC Aishmuqam, Pahalgam Development Authority, NHAI and Tourism. At Walnut Factory Qazigund, while 4 toilet blocks were already functional and have been refurbished appropriately, 2 new blocks are under construction and shall be completed by the end of this month. Similarly at FCI Godown Mir Bazar, 3 new blocks are under construction to augment the available capacity to cater to the rush of Yatries expected this year.
The municipalities falling along annual amaranth yatra route have functionalized 11 toilet blocks with 63 toilet units. The EOs in all these municipalities have also deployed manpower round the clock for maintaining hygienic conditions in these facilities. Similarly NHAI has set up 5 toilet blocks on the National Highway 44 at regular intervals for the convenience of the yatries. All these blocks are under construction and expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
ACP Anantnag said that every effort has been made to ensure that yatries do not face any inconvenience while travelling to Nunwan Base camp and onwards to the Holy Cave. He said that in addition to the public conveniences mentioned above, all petrol pumps en route have been directed to ensure that public convenience facilities are functional, as is required under rules to augment to capacity being set up by the Government.
He said that wherever required, portable toilet facilities are being set up to augment the available infrastructure and requisitions in this regard have been made to the concerned departments. He said that he is confident that with the detailed plans put in place, the Yatries should face no inconvenience.
He further said that they are evaluating the plans put in place regularly and any challenges that emerge will be tackled appropriately. He said that down the line, responsibilities have been assigned to various officers and directions have been passed to ensure that the plans are implemented in letter and spirit.