CS takes stock of arrangements for Amarnath Yatra

Srinagar: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, on Thursday chaired a high level meeting of all the concerned departments attended by the senior functionaries of Civil Administration and Police to review the position of arrangements being made for smooth conduct of annual Amarnath Yatra.
Dulloo had department wise appraisal of the status of facilities to be created by them for safety, security and convenience of the pilgrims going to visit the holy cave during the yatra period.
The Chief Secretary took a detailed review of the facilities to be created for pilgrims particularly in transit camps, lodgements and enrouteJammu-Srinagar National Highway besides on both the axis leading to holy cave from Baltal and Chandanwari.
He directed the concerned to suitably augment all the requisite facilities to ensure smooth and safe conduct of the pilgrimage. He directed the line departments including the PWD, Jal Shakti, PDD, H&UDD, RDD, Tourism, Health, Forest, FCS&CA, Telecom, DMRR&R and others to ensure that the works identified for them are completed well in advance.
The Chief Secretary impressed upon the concerned Divisional Commissioners to ensure proper coordination among the departments for timely execution of works on ground. He stressed on finalization of tenders for services like sanitation and others to be done before June so that the service providers are available much before the commencement of the yatra.
He also took detailed overview of the ongoing works, condition of tracks, infrastructure and that of other services like capacity of base camps, transit camps, lodgements, holding areas from the concerned Deputy Commissioners. He impressed upon them to make sure that no such facility is established in disaster prone areas and measures like fire-safety audit and compliance with all the safety parameters is done without any compromise.
The Chief Secretary exhorted the administration to increase the ambit of digital prepaid services for the easement of both the pilgrims and service-providers. He asked them to create necessary provisions for enabling most of the transactions are done through this hassle-free mechanism only.
Dulloo further took note of the roles and responsibilities of the Departments like Health, FCS&CA, Forest, Animal Husbandry, SDRF, Information, Transport, Fire & Emergency Services in the successful conduct of the pilgrimage. He directed them to make adequate arrangements of the services provided by each of them along with the backups for any of the unforeseen circumstances. He asked for showing exemplary coordination with each other to make this religious affair memorable for all of the pilgrims coming to undertake yatra this year.
Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor and CEO SASB made a detailed presentation on the requirements for successful conduct of this year’s annual AmarnathJiyatra here. He also highlighted the roles of the government departments, Security forces and different service providers during this time.
He called on the concerned Deputy Commissioners to conspicuously earmark the disaster prone areas for avoiding pitching of tents/shops/langars there. He asked for ensuring every Yatri/ service provider is allowed on the yatra track only after ascertaining that the concerned is carrying valid RFID card besides employing effective crowd management and optimum frisking time at each access control gate.
He made out that during SANJY-2024, the holding capacity inside yatra camps established at different locations was over 58,000 and outside yatra area it was around 53,000 scattered over different districts right from Lakhanpur to Ganderbal. He made out that this year the capacity would suitably be augmented with lodgement facilities to be created near relevant Railway Stations too.
Regarding registration of Labour and other service providers, it was given out that till 07.05.2025, a total of 5,134 ponies, 4,910 pony owners, 325 Pithus, 436 Palkiwalas and 27 Hawkers had been registered by the twin Departments of Labour and Animal Husbandry here. It was added that all the ponies stands insured under National Livestock Mission for a sum of Rs. 50,000 per animal, covering both natural as well as accidental deaths.
With respect to the weather forecasting infrastructure for dissemination of timely information about weather updates it was revealed that automatic weather stations at appropriate locations would be made operational by 20th June.
Moreover, large sized LED display boards at Base Camps, SMS alert to Administration/Yatra officers, CAP alert by IMD in case of sudden development of potentially hazardous weather condition, Yatra specific web page, Doppler Weather Radar at Banihal top in addition to deployment of IMD officials at Baltal and Nunwan would also be made to make the yatra safe and secure for every pilgrim.